Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
A FOUR-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM WITH THE NORDIC HAMSTRING EXERCISE DURING PRESEASON INCREASES ECCENTRIC STRENGTH OF MALE
Nathalia Trevisol de Oliveira1, Thales Menezes Medeiros1, Karoline Baptista Vianna1
1Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Background:
The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is an effective strategy to prevent hamstring strain injuries in soccer players. The current literature recommends a 10-week training program with three sessions per week, but the short preseason period and the congested schedule make difficult for high-performance soccer teams to apply the NHE as recommended.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pragmatic NHE training program during a four-week preseason period on eccentric knee flexor strength of high-performance soccer players.
Study Design:
Quasi-experimental clinical trial.
Methods:
This study included 25 under-20 male soccer players from a premier league club. They performed eight sessions of NHE (3 sets of 6-10 repetitions, twice a week) during the four-week preseason period. The eccentric knee flexor strength was evaluated during the NHE execution on a custom-made device, before and after the training program.
Results:
The NHE training program significantly increased the players' eccentric knee flexor strength in both right (Δ = 13%; p<0.001; effect size = 0.97) and left limbs (Δ = 13%; p<0.001; effect size = 0.92). Individual analysis identified 76% of the players as responders to the NHE training program (Δ = 16%; effect size = 1.60), and 24% as non-responders (Δ = 3%; effect size = 0.24).
Conclusion:
A four-week training program with NHE performed twice a week is feasible in the real-world of high-performance soccer clubs and increases the eccentric knee flexor strength of male soccer players.
More Related Videos
10:08Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
06:52An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:28Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles....