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Nordic hamstring exercise training alters knee joint kinematics and hamstring activation patterns in young men

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the kinematic and muscle activation adaptations during performance of the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) to a 6-week eccentric hamstring training programme using the NHE as the sole mode of exercise.

Methods

Twenty-nine healthy males were randomly allocated to a control (CG) or intervention (IG) group. The IG participated in a 6-week eccentric hamstring exercise programme using the NHE.

Results

The findings of the present study were that a 6-week eccentric hamstring training programme improved eccentric hamstring muscle strength (202.4 vs. 177.4 nm, p = 0.0002, Cohen’s d = 0.97) and optimized kinematic (longer control of the forward fall component of the NHE, 68.1° vs. 73.7°, p = 0.022, Cohen's d = 0.90) and neuromuscular parameters (increased electromyographic activity of the hamstrings, 83.2 vs. 56.6 % and 92.0 vs. 54.2 %, p < 0.05, Cohen's d > 1.25) associated with NHE performance.

Conclusion

This study provides some insight into potential mechanisms by which an eccentric hamstring exercise programme utilizing the NHE as the mode of exercise may result in an improvement in hamstring muscle control during eccentric contractions.

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Abbreviations

BF:

Biceps femoris

CI:

Co-activation index

CG:

Control group

EMG:

Electromyography/electromyographic

IG:

Intervention group

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

NHE:

Nordic hamstring exercise

POST:

Post-intervention

PRE:

Pre-intervention

RF:

Rectus femoris

RPM:

Revolutions per minute

ST:

Semitendinosus

VL:

Vastus lateralis

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

    Eamonn Delahunt, Mark McGroarty, Giuseppe De Vito & Massimiliano Ditroilo

  2. Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

    Eamonn Delahunt, Giuseppe De Vito & Massimiliano Ditroilo

Authors
  1. Eamonn Delahunt
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  2. Mark McGroarty
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  3. Giuseppe De Vito
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  4. Massimiliano Ditroilo
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Correspondence to Eamonn Delahunt.

Additional information

Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Delahunt, E., McGroarty, M., De Vito, G. et al. Nordic hamstring exercise training alters knee joint kinematics and hamstring activation patterns in young men. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 663–672 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3325-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3325-3

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