## 4 Discussion
In contrast, NHC focuses on the eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles by changing muscle architecture specifically related to eccentric contractions. The primary benefit of NHC is its ability to enhance eccentric strength, which is crucial for activities that involve controlled lengthening of muscles under load. However, this focus on the hamstrings means that the benefits are somewhat localized, potentially limiting the enhancement of overall knee flexion strength. Moreover, NHC exercises are characterized by their intense eccentric contractions, which can induce significant muscle damage and acute fatigue. This acute fatigue can impair short-term performance and recovery, reducing the immediate observable improvements in strength and function that might be expected from such training [26]. The acute fatigue resulting from NHC can be particularly detrimental in the short-term, as the delayed onset muscle soreness and reduced muscle function can overshadow the long-term benefits of increased eccentric strength. The localized nature of NHC's effects and the significant muscle strain during eccentric contractions can contribute to decreased performance immediately following training sessions. In contrast, DM techniques, by focusing on broader aspects of muscle function and joint mechanics, can lead to more consistent improvements in performance and strength due to their less fatiguing nature and their ability to address multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Thus, while NHC offers valuable long-term adaptations for hamstring strength, its short-term efficacy may be compromised by acute fatigue and the specific focus on eccentric strength, unlike the more holistic benefits observed with DM interventions [24; 25; 26]. Furthermore, individual variability in neuromuscular activation patterns, muscle architecture, and biomechanical factors may influence the magnitude and specificity of adaptations to DM and NHC interventions. Variables such as an individual's training status, familiarity with a complex and challenging exercise like the NHC, injury history, and anatomical variations can influence the response to these interventions [26]. While our study describes the immediate impacts of both DM and NHC interventions on the maximal strength, average strength, and maximal impulse of football players' KE and KF, it also highlights certain limitations and areas for future exploration. The youthfulness of our participants limits the applicability of our findings to older contexts, as factors such as trainability and competitive status can affect the effectiveness of interventions. This underscores the need for broader and more diverse sample sizes, including older and elite players, as well as female athletes, to confirm and expand our results across different athlete demographics. Additionally, the short-term nature of our post-intervention assessments highlights the need for longer-term analyses to determine the sustained effects on muscle strength and performance outcomes. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct post-intervention assessments at various time-points, rather than immediately. This would involve evaluating responses at 24 and 48 h, and examining potential longer-term impacts beyond the immediate post-intervention period. Moreover, incorporating advanced measures such as electromyography and muscle architecture assessment could offer deeper mechanistic insights into the observed effects. The absence of a passive control group in our study underscores the need for future research to incorporate such conditions to better isolate the effects of the interventions. Moreover, optimizing the dosage, frequency, and timing of DM and NHC interventions, along with exploring their potential synergistic effects with other training modalities, holds promise for enhancing athletic performance.