The Effect of a 6 Week Nordic Hamstring Exercise and an Assisted Nordic Hamstring Program on Hamstring Muscle Strength
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Hamstring Injury
- Sponsor
- Dublin City University
- Enrollment
- 38
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Eccentric hamstring strength
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 3 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to compare the effect of two hamstring strengthening programs on hamstring muscle strength in university students. 60 participants will be recruited for this study. They will be randomly assigned to one of two 6-week hamstring strengthening programs, namely the single leg bridge exercise and the Nordic hamstring exercise protocol, and one control group. Eccentric and isometric hamstring strength, gluteal strength and will sprint speed will be measured before and after the intervention.
Detailed Description
Participants will be recruited from the local university sports clubs. Club chairpersons will be asked to send an email to club players. Players interested in participating in the study will be asked to attend a meeting where the study will be explained to them. Those who were interested will then be assessed for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group allocation: A four block randomization method will be used to allocate participants to the Nordic hamstring exercise protocol or the single leg bridge protocol. Interventions: The Nordic hamstring exercise program or the single leg bridge program. Testing procedure: The eccentric strength of the participants' hamstrings will be recorded before and after the exercise intervention. A 10 point visual analogue scale will be used to record the level of muscle soreness experienced after each training session.
Investigators
Enda Whyte
Assistant Professor
Dublin City University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •free from hamstring injury in the 6 months prior to the study
- •currently competing in team sports at least three occasions per week
Exclusion Criteria
- •history of a hip or knee injury in the 3 months prior to the study
- •a history of anterior cruciate ligament rupture
- •a history of involvement in a hamstring strengthening, injury prevention programme in the 3 months prior to the study.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Eccentric hamstring strength
Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks
This will be measured using devices that measure the eccentric strength of the hamstrings during the Nordic hamstring exercise. The devices are called the Hamstring Solo device and the Nordbord device. Participants will kneel on the padded surface of the device with their lower limbs held in position just above the ankles. The ankle supports have load sensitive cells. The participants will be asked to complete the nordic hamstring exercise. This involves them folding their arms across their chest and slowly lowering themselves towards the ground by allowing their knees to slowly straighten. The load cells will record the force (newtons) during the exercise for each leg.
Eccentric hamstring moment
Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks
This will be measured using devices that measure the eccentric strength of the hamstrings during the Nordic hamstring exercise. The devices are called the Hamstring Solo device and the Nordbord device. Participants will kneel on the padded surface of the device with their lower limbs held in position just above the ankles. The ankle supports have load sensitive cells. The participants will be asked to complete the nordic hamstring exercise. This involves them folding their arms across their chest and slowly lowering themselves towards the ground by allowing their knees to slowly straighten. The load cells will record the force (newtons) during the exercise for each leg. The distance from the load cells to the knee joint will be measured (meters) to calculate the moment in Newton meters for the exercise
Hamstring strength endurance
Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks
This will be measured by assessing the number of repetitions of the single leg bridge exercise to failure
Secondary Outcomes
- Muscle soreness ratings following exercise(immediately following each session)
- between limb asymmetries in hamstring strength, moment and endurance.(Change from baseline after 6 weeks)