Measuring the muscle gap "helps players at their feet"

Measuring the muscle gap "helps players at their feet"

Measuring the muscle gap "helps players at their feet"

Measuring the muscle gap "helps players at their feet"

A new way to measure the severity of muscle injuries could help players get back to action faster, research suggests.

Spanish scientists have said that passing a current through the affected muscles gave a clearer picture of soft tissue injuries such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.

This can give a better idea clubs of the time of the injury dismissal.

The technique was proven in 18 wounds Profesional de Futbolistas FC Barcelona.

Skeletal muscle injuries are common in competitive sports, especially football, where they account for 30% of all injuries.

The study, from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said that it was often difficult to get a clear idea of ​​the suitability of athletes.

This is because the "muscle gap" - or muscle damage - can not be easily measured by current methods.

The new technique, called localized bioimpedance measurement (L-BIA), works by sending a low-intensity alternating current through healthy muscle tissue and comparing the readings of injured tissues.

Dr. Javier Yanguas, chief physician at FC Barcelona, ​​said the new technique: "It can withstand the image of the ultrasound or magnetic resonance to help quantify the structure of the soft tissue disturbance in the injured muscles."

He also said it was a cheap and non-invasive.

The study examined 22 muscle injuries in 18 Barcelona players for five years.

The researchers took action shortly after the injuries occurred and again footballers when they returned to the load, and also compared to healthy muscles.

Consequently, they were able to separate the lesions into two distinct groups, determine the severity of the injury and then the recovery time of the likely players.

Dr. Yanguas said: "The prognosis of the injury and the time to play again will depend, among others, the severity of the injury.

"It will be incorrect if the classification of the injury is wrong."

The research is published in the journal Physiological measurement.