Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Application of eccentric exercise on an Australian Rules football player with recurrent hamstring injuries
Matt Brughelli1, Ken Nosaka, John Cronin
1School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, Australia. m.brughelli@ecu.edu.au
Study Design:
Case report.
Objective:
To assess an eccentric based intervention on an Australian Football player with recurrent hamstring injuries.
Case Description:
The athlete attempted several conventional rehabilitation programs in the past (e.g. physical therapy, manual therapy, acupuncture, active release, medial gluteal strengthening) with no sustained progress in regards to pain, soreness, or return to sport.
Outcomes:
After the first three phases of the intervention (i.e. nine weeks), the optimum angle of peak torque during knee flexion decreased from 37.3 to 23.9 degrees in the injured leg, and from 24.3 to 20.3 degrees in the non-injured leg. After the first nine weeks, the optimum angles then remained constant for another 23 weeks. The optimum angle of peak torque was also shifted in the knee extensors by 3.9 degrees (injured leg) and 3.4 degrees (non-injured leg) after nine weeks and then remained constant for the remaining 23 weeks. Quadriceps to hamstring peak torque ratio's (Q/H ratios) and peak torque during knee flexion and extension remained constant throughout the intervention.
Discussion:
An eccentric based intervention was shown to be safe and effective for altering the optimum angle of peak torque (i.e. shifting to longer muscle lengths) for this athlete with recurrent hamstring injuries.
