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

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04744194
• Recruitment Status: Enrolling by invitation
• First Posted: February 8, 2021
• Last Update Posted: February 8, 2021
• Sponsor: Dublin City University
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Enda Whyte, Dublin City University

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study aims to compare the effect of two hamstring strengthening programs on hamstring muscle strength in university students. 38 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. Eccentric hamstring strength will be measured before and after the intervention.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Hamstring Injury	Other: Nordic hamstring exercise program; Other: Single leg bridge exercise program	Not Applicable

Detailed 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.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 38 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: The Effect of a 6 Week Nordic Hamstring Exercise and Single Leg Bridge Exercise Program on Hamstring Muscle Strength
• Estimated Study Start Date: February 25, 2021
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: October 6, 2021
• Estimated Study Completion Date: November 6, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Active Comparator: Nordic hamstring exercise program; Participants are required to kneel on a gym mat keeping their hips in a slightly flexed position and to slowly lower themselves in a controlled manner as far as they could towards the ground. When they can no longer lower themselves as such, they are instructed to utilise their arms to buffer the fall and touch their chest off the ground, while maintaining tension in their hamstrings. Once their chest touches the ground they are instructed to immediately return to the starting position by pushing up with their hands	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.
Experimental: Single leg bridge exercise program; The single leg bridge is performed with the participant lying on the ground in supine with one heel on a box that is approximately 60cm in height and the knee in approximately 20 degrees of flexion. The participant then crosses their arms across their chest and pushes down through the heel to lift their hips off the ground so that their hips extend into a position of zero degrees flexion. The participant then allows their hips/buttocks to slowly lower to the ground.	Other: Single leg bridge 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.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Eccentric hamstring strength [ Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks ]
   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.
2. Eccentric hamstring moment [ Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks ]
   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
3. Hamstring strength endurance [ Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks ]
   This will be measured by assessing the number of repetitions of the single leg bridge exercise to failure

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Muscle soreness ratings following exercise [ Time Frame: immediately following each session ]
   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.
2. between limb asymmetries in hamstring strength, moment and endurance. [ Time Frame: Change from baseline after 6 weeks ]
   percentage between limb asymmetries will be calculated

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 35 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

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.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Ireland

Dublin City University

Dublin, Ireland, Dublin 9

Sponsors and Collaborators

Dublin City University

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: enda whyte, PhD; Dublin City University

More Information

• Responsible Party: Enda Whyte, Assistant Professor, Dublin City University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04744194
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019_10_EW/FB
• First Posted: February 8, 2021
• Last Update Posted: February 8, 2021
• Last Verified: February 2021

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Enda Whyte, Dublin City University:

Eccentric hamstring strength; Nordic hamstring exercise; Single leg bridge exercise