The Effect of 6 Week Hamstring Exercise Programs on Hamstring Muscle Strength

Hamstring Injury Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effect of a 6 Week Nordic Hamstring Exercise and an Assisted Nordic Hamstring Program on Hamstring Muscle Strength

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04744194
• Other study ID #: 2019_10_EW/FB
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: February 13, 2022
• Est. completion date: November 6, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: February 2023
• Source: Dublin City University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 38
• Est. completion date: November 6, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: May 6, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

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.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hamstring Injury

Intervention

Other:
• Nordic hamstring exercise program
Week 1 - 1 session per week consisting of 2 sets of 5 reps of the exercise Week 2 - 2 sessions per week consisting of 2 sets of 6 reps of the exercise Week 3 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of 6 reps of the exercise Week 4 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of 8 reps of the exercise Weeks 5 and 6 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of the exercise. Set 1 with 12 reps, set 2 with 10 reps and set 3 with 8 reps.
• Assisted nordic hamstring exercise program
Week 1 - 1 session per week consisting of 2 sets of 5 reps of the exercise Week 2 - 2 sessions per week consisting of 2 sets of 6 reps of the exercise Week 3 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of 6 reps of the exercise Week 4 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of 8 reps of the exercise Weeks 5 and 6 - 3 sessions per week consisting of 3 sets of the exercise. Set 1 with 12 reps, set 2 with 10 reps and set 3 with 8 reps.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Ireland	Dublin City University	Dublin

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Dublin City University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Ireland, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Eccentric hamstring strength	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.	Change from baseline after 6 weeks
Primary	Eccentric hamstring moment	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	Change from baseline after 6 weeks
Primary	Hamstring strength endurance	This will be measured by assessing the number of repetitions of the single leg bridge exercise to failure	Change from baseline after 6 weeks
Secondary	Muscle soreness ratings following exercise	Participants will use a ten point numerical rating scale to record the level of muscle soreness after training sessions. The scale will range from 0 to 10 where 0 is no pain and 10 is the most severe pain imaginable.	immediately following each session
Secondary	between limb asymmetries in hamstring strength, moment and endurance.	percentage between limb asymmetries will be calculated	Change from baseline after 6 weeks