Clinical trial NCT05733273: The Effect of 6 Week Hamstring Exercise Programs on Hamstring Muscle Function Performance in Female Athletes
Official title: The Effect of 6 Week Hamstring Exercise Programs on Hamstring Muscle Function and Performance in Female Athletes
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Hamstring Injury
Keywords: Eccentric hamstring strength
Sprint performance
Nordic hamstring exercise
Lead sponsor: Dublin City University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-02-17
Enrollment: 47
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This study aims to compare the effect of two hamstring strengthening programs on hamstring muscle strength in female university athletes. 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.

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 and hip extensors will be recorded before and after the exercise intervention.

30 metre sprint performance will be recorded before and after the intervention. A 10 point visual analogue scale will be used to record the level of muscle soreness experienced after each training session.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* female
* university athlete competing in team sports at least three times per week
* free from hamstring injury in previous 6 months

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

Primary outcomes:
measure: eccentric hamstring strength
timeFrame: Change from baseline 6 weeks
measure: eccentric hamstring moment
timeFrame: Change from baseline 6 weeks
measure: isometric hamstring strength and moment
timeFrame: Change from baseline 6 weeks
measure: isometric hip extensor strength and moment
timeFrame: Change from baseline 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Sprint performance
timeFrame: Change from baseline 6 weeks
measure: Muscle soreness following exercise
timeFrame: Following each session
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Dublin
country: Ireland
facility: Dublin City University
Study officials:
affiliation: Dublin City University
name: Enda Whyte, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: