Effect of Exercises on Hamstring Muscle Function, Injury Risk, Agility and Cognitive Function
Condition: Hamstring Muscles; Muscle Function; Cognitive Function; Turkish Get Up
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Hamstring muscle injuries (HMI) occurs frequently during excessive motions of the physiologic
      capability of these muscles. It is reported in the literature that impairments in muscle
      architecture, such as a decrease in the eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles of the
      knee (lengthening and contraction of the muscle), delay in the reaction time of the hamstring
      muscles, overactivity of the hamstring muscles, a decrease in the length of the hamstring
      muscle fibers, and inadequate cognitive functions may lead to HMI. Preventive and therapeutic
      exercises of HMI consist many different eccentric exercises, such as the Askling L-protocol
      and particularly Nordic hamstring exercise, for increasing the hamstring flexibility.
      However, it has been stated in recent studies that hamstring muscles should not be focused on
      alone, and a holistic exercise intervention that includes and addresses the present risk
      factors related to HMI is needed. Within our knowledge, the effect of a defined or improved
      holistic exercise approach to prevent and/or treat HMI has not been studied in the
      literature. Considering the risk factors underlying HMI, an exercise involving a holistic
      approach is needed to prevent all the risk factors. Turkish Get Up (TGU) exercise is a kind
      of cognitive exercise which activates all muscles and let to contract simultaneously during
      standing up from the supine position and turning back in 7 stages. Since the exercise
      originates from former Turkish athletes, it has been included in the literature as TGU.
      Hence, the exercise originates from former Turkish athletes, it has called as TGU. TGU
      exercise improves the effective and strong transition ability of the body while developing
      the pattern of standing up from the lying position on the floor and turning back by
      increasing condition/ endurance. Meanwhile, this exercise is a progressive coordinative and
      cognitive exercise, it requires completing each step before the next movement.

      The role of cognitive skills and neuroscience in the interpretation, prediction and
      improvement of sports performance is getting popular in recent years. Previous researches
      reported that athletes with reduced cognitive skills had lower sportive achievements. It has
      also stated that the impairment in cognitive skills tend muscles to be injured. However, no
      studies that investigate the effectiveness of cognitive function in preventing HMI have been
      encountered. So, the present study will be the first study investigating effects of a special
      exercise addressing cognitive function which is generally ignored in the treatment of HMI.

      It is aimed to figure out whether Turkish Get Up exercise or Supine sliding leg curls and
      Nordic Hamstring exercises are more effective on hamstring muscle function, ınjury risk,
      agility and cognitive function.

      Healthy recreational people aged between 18-25 will assign to this study. The participants
      will randomly be allocated four groups (Nordic protocol group, Supine sliding leg curls
      group, Turkish Get Up (TGU) and control group). The exercise protocols will be applied two
      days a week for 6 weeks, and the control group will receive no special exercise training.
      Participants' hamstring muscle strengths will be evaluated with ISOMED 2000 isokinetic
      dynamometer, the hamstring flexibility with digital inclinometer device, injury risk with
      FMS™, agility with T-agility test, and the cognitive function with CNS Vital Signs in
      computer environment at baseline and 6 weeks after interventions.
    


Intervention name(s): Turkish Get-up exercise; Askling L-Protocol; Nordic hamstring exercise; Control Group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): TG exercise, in 7 different steps (1. Starting position, 2. Supine girya lifting, 3. Elbow supported kettlebell lifting, 4. Hand supported kettlebell lifting, 5. High bridge, 6. Half above knee and lunge position, 7. Standing up) and the return of these different steps.; he protocol consists of 3 different exercises. These are exercise 1 aimed at increasing flexibility, exercise 2 providing strength and trunk / pelvis stabilization, and exercise 3 aiming at specific strengthening. Pain is not allowed to be provoked when performing the exercises.; To perform this exercise, participants will be asked to stand in an upright position on their knees. Hands and arms will be positioned on the chest and the individuals will be held by the physiotherapist at their heels. The individual will then be asked to lower the upper body forward as slowly as possible. Verbal commands will be given throughout the movement so that the hip and trunk smoothness is not disturbed.; No exercise will be applied to the individuals in the control group. At the end of the 6-week period, all parameters will be evaluated again.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Healthy recreational people aged between 18-25 will assign to this study. The participants will randomly be allocated four groups (Nordic protocol group, Supine sliding leg curls group, Turkish Get Up (TGU) and control group).
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment