The Effect of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Muscle Activity Distribution During High-Speed Running
Jozef J M Suskens1,2,3, Huub Maas2,4, Jaap H van Dieën2,4
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Summary
The Nordic hamstring exercise did not significantly alter hamstring muscle activity or contribution during high-speed running in basketball players over 12 weeks. Further research is needed due to limited data.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- The Nordic hamstring exercise is often prescribed to enhance hamstring muscle strength and reduce injury risk.
- Understanding its effect on muscle activation during dynamic movements like running is crucial for optimizing training protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a 12-week Nordic hamstring exercise intervention on hamstring muscle activity and relative contribution during the late-swing phase of high-speed running.
- To analyze the specific roles of the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 20 male basketball players was conducted.
- Participants were assigned to either a 12-week Nordic hamstring exercise group or a control group.
- Multichannel electromyography was used to measure normalized muscle activity (%MVIC) and relative contribution (%con) of hamstring muscles.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in normalized muscle activity were observed between the Nordic group and the control group for any hamstring muscle.
- Similarly, the relative contribution of the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus did not significantly change between groups.
- Trends suggested potential minor alterations, but these did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- A 12-week Nordic hamstring exercise intervention did not significantly alter hamstring muscle activity or relative contribution during the late-swing phase of high-speed running in this cohort.
- The limited sample size necessitates cautious interpretation of these findings, highlighting the need for further investigation with larger datasets.
