Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges
Background Nordic hamstring test devices are commonly used to measure maximal eccentric hamstring force. The ability to control the final phase of the exercise has been adopted as a criterion to add weight when testing, without substantial evidence. We investigated if adding weight affected the maxi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001699.full |
| _version_ | 1797365386432217088 |
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| author | Roald Bahr Merete Møller Roar Amundsen |
| author_facet | Roald Bahr Merete Møller Roar Amundsen |
| author_sort | Roald Bahr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Nordic hamstring test devices are commonly used to measure maximal eccentric hamstring force. The ability to control the final phase of the exercise has been adopted as a criterion to add weight when testing, without substantial evidence. We investigated if adding weight affected the maximal force measured, and if there were differences between players who could and could not control the final phase.Methods Female (n=84) and male (n=56) football players performed a Nordic hamstring strength test with 0, 5 and 10 kg. We used visual inspection to assess the ability to control the final phase (approximately last 20°), as per previously published studies.Results Maximal force was higher when tested with 5 kg (females: +8 N (2%), p<0.001; males: +18 N (4%), p<0.001) and 10 kg (females: +17 N (5%), p<0.001; males: +27 N (6%), p<0.001) compared with 0 kg. This was the case for both groups, those who could control the final phase (5 kg: +16 N (4%), p<0.001; 10 kg: +28 N (7%), p<0.001) and those who could not (5 kg: +9 N (3%), p<0.001; 10 kg: +15 N (4%), p<0.001).Conclusion Both players who could and could not control the final phase of the Nordic hamstring test demonstrated higher maximal force when adding weight to testing. Therefore, this should not be used to decide if players should perform testing with or without weight. Either all participants or none should be tested with weight, and the same approach should be used both for pre-testing and post-testing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8bb306b8186b472b900e069c518c9813 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-8bb306b8186b472b900e069c518c98132024-01-05T05:35:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472023-12-019410.1136/bmjsem-2023-001699Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to orangesRoald Bahr0Merete Møller1Roar Amundsen21 Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, NorwayOslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Institute of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, NorwayOslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Institute of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, NorwayBackground Nordic hamstring test devices are commonly used to measure maximal eccentric hamstring force. The ability to control the final phase of the exercise has been adopted as a criterion to add weight when testing, without substantial evidence. We investigated if adding weight affected the maximal force measured, and if there were differences between players who could and could not control the final phase.Methods Female (n=84) and male (n=56) football players performed a Nordic hamstring strength test with 0, 5 and 10 kg. We used visual inspection to assess the ability to control the final phase (approximately last 20°), as per previously published studies.Results Maximal force was higher when tested with 5 kg (females: +8 N (2%), p<0.001; males: +18 N (4%), p<0.001) and 10 kg (females: +17 N (5%), p<0.001; males: +27 N (6%), p<0.001) compared with 0 kg. This was the case for both groups, those who could control the final phase (5 kg: +16 N (4%), p<0.001; 10 kg: +28 N (7%), p<0.001) and those who could not (5 kg: +9 N (3%), p<0.001; 10 kg: +15 N (4%), p<0.001).Conclusion Both players who could and could not control the final phase of the Nordic hamstring test demonstrated higher maximal force when adding weight to testing. Therefore, this should not be used to decide if players should perform testing with or without weight. Either all participants or none should be tested with weight, and the same approach should be used both for pre-testing and post-testing.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001699.full |
| spellingShingle | Roald Bahr Merete Møller Roar Amundsen Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges |
| title_full | Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges |
| title_fullStr | Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges |
| title_short | Performing Nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured: do not compare apples to oranges |
| title_sort | performing nordic hamstring strength testing with additional weight affects the maximal eccentric force measured do not compare apples to oranges |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001699.full |
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