Author(s): MOREL, A., GUITARD, G., GUEX, K., Institution: HAUTE ECOLE DE SANTÉ VAUD, Country: SWITZERLAND, Abstract-ID: 2288

INTRODUCTION:
Lower limb muscle injuries remain a major concern in sprint-based sports due to their high incidence, recurrence rate, and impact on performance and training availability (1) (2). Hamstring injuries are particularly prevalent during high-speed running, where muscles operate at long lengths and under high eccentric load (3). The Sprint Motor Assessment Scale (S-MAS) is a validated observational tool designed to identify sprint mechanics associated with hamstring injury risk in elite football players (4). However, its applicability to elite track-and-field sprinters remains unknown, and no study has explored its potential association with injury history in this population.

This study aimed to explore the association between S-MAS scores and retrospective lower limb muscle injury occurrence, and to compare S-MAS scores obtained in elite sprinters with previously published data from elite football players.
METHODS:
This observational, non-interventional pilot study included elite Track-and- Field sprinters who competed in the 2025 Swiss Indoor Championships. Publicly available sprint videos were analyzed using the Sprint Motor Assessment Scale by two independent trained evaluators. A retrospective injury questionnaire was administered 48 athletes to collect data on lower limb muscle injuries during the 12 months following competition. The primary outcome was total S-MAS score. Secondary outcomes included presence or absence of muscle injury. Between-group comparisons were conducted against published football reference values. Associations between S-MAS score and injury occurrence were explored using logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS:
Twelve elite sprinters were included (6 injured, 6 non-injured). Mean S-MAS score was 2.75 ± 1.36. Injured athletes showed higher S-MAS scores compared to non-injured athletes (3.00 ± 1.67 vs 2.50 ± 1.05). Logistic regression indicated an odds ratio of 2.31 per 1-point increase in S-MAS score (p = 0.208), suggesting a potential association with injury history despite wide confidence intervals due to sample size.
CONCLUSION:
Mean S-MAS scores reported in 136 elite soccer players were 4.2 (SD 2.6) in males and 3.8 (SD 2.5) in females (4). In contrast, mean S-MAS scores in 48 elite track-and-field athletes were 3.0 (SD 1.3) and 2.9 (SD 1.2). These descriptive differences may suggest discipline-specific sprint mechanics, although direct comparisons should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological differences between studies.

These preliminary findings suggest a possible association between sprint movement quality and muscle injury history in elite Track-and-Field sprinters. Larger prospective studies are required to further evaluate the relevance of the S-MAS in sprint populations.

(1) Edouard, 2024 / (2) Bramah, 2024 / (3) Biz, 2021 / (4) Bramah, 2025