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- Hamstring muscle-tendon geometric adaptations to resistance…
Hamstring muscle-tendon geometric adaptations to resistance training using the hip extension and Nordic hamstring exercises
Key Points
- The hip extension exercise is particularly useful when looking to bring about an increase in Biceps Femoris Long Head cross-sectional area.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
As is well published and acknowledged within the literature, hamstring injuries are one of the most common causes of time loss within a wide range of elite sports, and for this reason attention is paid to trying to better understand the factors contributing to injury and what can be done to address them.
This study looked to identify exercises which may be able to bring about potentially desirable changes in aponeurosis structure. Previous research (1) had suggested that this may be possible to be achieved with long length knee-dominant exercise, but up till now no research had been completed within hip-dominant exercise.
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a 10-week training program of Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) or Hip extension exercise (HEE) on hamstring tendon/aponeurosis volumes, regional cross-sectional area and Biceps Femoris Long Head (BFlH) aponeurosis interface.
We must consider that prescription of these exercises is increasing something that may have in fact caused the injury in the first instance, with an aponeurotic or tendinous structure that was not able to cope with the force demands placed upon it.
METHODS
- The study utilized 30 recreationally active men and assigned them to three different groups of 10. These three groups then completed a 10-week training program of either their usual activity (control), the NHE or the HEE. See Video 1 for