MedPath

Nordic Hamstring and Repeated-sprint Ability in Football (Soccer) Players

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Repeated-sprint Ability
Registration Number
NCT02674919
Lead Sponsor
Hvidovre University Hospital
Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to investigate the efficacy of a 10-week intervention, using the Nordic Hamstring exercise, on repeated-sprint ability in male sub-elite football players. The primary outcome measure is total sprint time during 4x6 sprint of 10 meters measured using dual-beam photoelectric cells. Additionally, eccentric knee flexor strength is measured using the Nordbord hamstring strength measure. The hypothesis is that strength training of the knee flexor muscles elicited by the Nordic Hamstring exercise will result in enhanced repetitive sprint-ability expressed as a decrease in total sprint time. Furthermore, baseline data is used to assess to correlation between eccentric hamstring strength and active hamstring flexibility AND sprint performance.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria
  • Sub-elite Danish football player
  • Age 17-35.
  • Able to participate fully in competitive football activities at the time of testing
Exclusion Criteria
  • Hamstring pain resulting in loss of training and matches 2 months prior to study initiation.
  • Specific systematic strength training of the hamstring muscles (>1/week) in the preceding 2 months before study initiation.
  • Specific systematic sprint training (>1/week) in the preceding 2 months before study initiation.
  • Longstanding injury (>6 weeks) in the lower extremities in the preceding 6 months to study initiation.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total sprint time measured during 4x6 sprints of 10 meters. The sprints are performed every 15s and the sets are separated by 3 minutes of rest.Measured prior to and after the intervention period (at week 0 & 10)
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Single sprint times (best sprint time, sprint time during last sprint).Measured prior to and after the intervention period (at week 0 & 10)
Maximal eccentric knee flexor strength measured using Nordbord deviceMeasured prior to and after the intervention period (at week 0 & 10)
Eccentric knee flexor strength endurance measured during 12 repetitions of the Nordic Hamstring exercise using Nordbord device.Measured prior to and after the intervention period (at week 0 & 10)
Active range of motion of hamstring muscles measured using inclinometer.Measured prior to and after the intervention period (at week 0 & 10)
Correlation between eccentric hamstring strength and active hamstring flexibility AND sprint performance.Measured prior to the intervention (at week 0)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Both the intervention and testing included in protocol will be conducted in the facilities of the included football clubs in Copenhagen, Denmark.

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

Both the intervention and testing included in protocol will be conducted in the facilities of the included football clubs in Copenhagen, Denmark.
🇩🇰Copenhagen, Denmark

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.