# Is Running Technique Important to Mitigate Hamstring Injuries in Football Players?
## 1 Introduction  
Hamstring injuries present a significant challenge in football, constituting a substantial portion of time-loss strains, reaching 17.5 days lost per 1000 h of exposure [1; 2] and revealing 24% of the total injuries [3] among professional football players. These constrains do not only affect players availability and team performance [3; 4] but also incur in significant financial implications for clubs due to players absences [2; 5]. Despite efforts to mitigate hamstring strains, recurrence rates remain notably high, ranging between 4 and 68% [6; 7]. Moreover, there has been a concerning upward trend in its incidence [3; 8] observed both during training sessions and matches [2; 3]. Exploring novel approaches tailored to the highly physical and mental demands of football players might help reducing the burden of hamstring injuries. Good running technique can be defined as the proper biomechanical form of the athlete's body that maximizes efficiency and enhances running performance [9; 10; 11]. It has demonstrated significant potential in reducing hamstring injuries rates [12; 13] that frequently occur during high-speed efforts due to repetitive intense eccentric loading [3; 14; 15]. Modifying certain key motor patterns during sprint cycle--such as avoiding overstriding [16], excessive forward trunk lean [17], and anterior pelvic tilt [18] while improving lumbo-pelvic control [12]--seems to be essential not only for achieving good running technique and enhancing performance [9; 10; 11] but also for playing a vital role in hamstring injury prevention [12; 13]. Overstriding, characterized by the foot landing too far ahead of the body's center of mass, is associated with increased injury risk, particularly hamstring injuries. This biomechanical deviation disrupts natural running mechanics, resulting in elevated braking forces and excessive strain on the lower limbs during the terminal swing phase [16; 19]. Optimizing stride length to position the foot closer to the body's center of mass at the moment of touchdown has been shown to improve running efficiency and reduce the risk of eccentric overload on the hamstrings. Correcting overstriding not only enhances running mechanics but also decreases muscle strain, thereby mitigating the likelihood of hamstring injuries [16; 20; 21]. In addition, excessive forward trunk lean during sprinting increases the eccentric loading and elongation of the hamstrings, particularly during the late stance phase, elevating the risk of hamstring injuries [17; 21]. Athletes are encouraged to adopt a more upright trunk position to reduce excessive hamstring activation required to stabilize the pelvis and trunk, which may further heighten strain under high-intensity activities [22]. Excessive anterior pelvic tilt increases strain on the hamstrings by placing them in a lengthened position, particularly during the terminal swing phase of high-speed running, heightening their susceptibility to strain injuries [17; 23]. Correcting pelvic alignment improves biomechanical efficiency, enhances hip extension, and alleviates over-reliance on the hamstrings for pelvic stabilization, reducing the risk of overuse injuries during running [23; 24]. Incorporating strengthening and stretching exercises, along with pelvic stabilization and core strengthening programs, are effective in addressing anterior pelvic tilt, improving posture, reducing hamstring strain and enhancing overall running efficiency [25; 26]. Core stability, defined as the proximal stability of the lumbar-pelvic-hip muscle complex to control the distal mobility of the human body [27], is crucial for maintaining proper running mechanics and reduce the hamstring muscles strain [28; 29; 30]. The activation of core muscles is known to precede the prime movements of the body, contributing to enhanced stability during dynamic actions [28; 31].