Optimizing Hamstring Rehabilitation With Amino Acids

University of Zaragoza

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Seamless Return to Sports

Treatments: Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise Program; Dietary Supplement: Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplement

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07086209

Unizar

Details and patient eligibility

About

Hamstring injuries are among the most prevalent and troublesome injuries in athletes, particularly those engaged in sports that require high-speed movements such as sprinting, kicking, and rapid changes in direction. The hamstring muscles, which include the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, are essential for powerful lower limb actions, and thus, any injury to these muscles can significantly impact an athlete's performance and recovery. These injuries often occur during eccentric muscle contractions, such as when the muscles lengthen rapidly under tension, as seen in running and sprinting. According to epidemiological studies, hamstring strains account for a substantial portion of sports-related injuries, with hamstring strains being the most commonly reported injury in disciplines such as football, soccer, rugby, and athletics. In professional football, for instance, hamstring injuries account for approximately 12% of all injuries and represent the most frequent muscle strain, underlining their significance in the context of athletic performance.

Enrollment: 25 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• • Male football players aged 18 to 35 years.

  • Active players from eight clubs in the Iraqi Football League.
  • MRI-confirmed partial hamstring muscle injury.
  • No participation in other ongoing rehabilitation programs.

Exclusion criteria

• • History of hamstring injury in the past six months.

  • Any other musculoskeletal injuries affecting lower limbs.
  • Contraindications for MRI scanning (e.g., metal implants, pacemakers).
  • Any existing neurological or metabolic conditions affecting muscle recovery.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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25 participants in 2 patient groups

Therapeutic Exercise + Amino Acid Supplementation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will undergo a structured 6-week therapeutic exercise rehabilitation program combined with daily oral branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation (10 g per day, divided into two doses: pre-training and post-training). The exercise program includes progressive isometric, eccentric, plyometric, and sprint-specific training to optimize hamstring recovery.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplement

Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise Program

Therapeutic Exercise Only

Active Comparator group

Description:

Arm Description: Participants in this arm will undergo the same structured 6-week therapeutic exercise rehabilitation program without any amino acid supplementation. The exercise program includes progressive isometric, eccentric, plyometric, and sprint-specific training for hamstring recovery.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplement

Behavioral: Therapeutic Exercise Program