#033 Emerging PhD research Emma Sconce - Hamstring injuries

Women's Football Hub Podcast – MSK Physiotherapy Series

🎙 Episode Title: Emerging PhD Research on Hamstring Injury & Function
👩‍⚕️ Guest: Emma Sconce, Researcher & Former Footballer
🎧 Host: Carolyn Kent

Episode Summary

In this episode, Carolyn Kent sits down with Emma Sconce, a former footballer turned researcher, who has just completed her PhD at Sheffield Hallam University focusing on hamstring injuries and function in footballers. Emma shares insights from her journey as a player, her transition into teaching and research, and her mission to reduce injury risks in athletes.

Key Topics Discussed

✅ Emma’s Journey in Football: From playing in the UK to experiencing the highly physical style of the U.S. game.
✅ Hamstring Injuries in Football: Why they are so common and the impact on performance.
✅ The Rise in Hamstring Injuries: How increased workload and game frequency may be contributing to injury rates.
✅ Predicting & Preventing Injuries: Emma’s PhD research into the Nordic hamstring exercise and breakpoint angles.
✅ Introducing HAL-HAM: A new device and system designed to measure hamstring function and reduce injuries.
✅ Practical Injury Prevention Tips: What players and coaches need to do to protect against hamstring injuries.

Key Takeaways

⚽ Female players are at increasing risk of hamstring injuries – with research showing up to 12% of all football injuries involve the hamstrings.
💡 Recovery is challenging due to scar tissue and muscle weakness, increasing reinjury risk.
🦵 The Nordic hamstring exercise can reduce injury risk by up to 51% – but compliance remains an issue.
📊 Emma’s research aims to bridge the gap between science and real-world injury prevention through the HAL-HAM system.

Resources & Further Reading

📖 Read Emma’s latest research on hamstring injury prevention.
🔗 Follow Emma on LinkedIn & X for research updates.

🎧 Listen Now: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📢 Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts using #WFHPodcast #WomensFootball #InjuryPrevention