Nordic hamstring exercises

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Acute neuromuscular and performance responses
to Nordic hamstring exercises completed before or
after football training
Ric Lovell, Jason C. Siegler, Michael Knox, Scott Brennan & Paul W. M.
Marshall
To cite this article: Ric Lovell, Jason C. Siegler, Michael Knox, Scott Brennan & Paul W. M.
Marshall (2016): Acute neuromuscular and performance responses to Nordic hamstring
exercises completed before or after football training, Journal of Sports Sciences
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Acute neuromuscular and performance responses to Nordic hamstring exercises
completed before or after football training
Ric Lovell, Jason C. Siegler, Michael Knox, Scott Brennan and Paul W. M. Marshall
School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
ABSTRACT
The optimal scheduling of Nordic Hamstring exercises (NHEs) relative to football training sessions is
unknown. We examined the acute neuromuscular and performance responses to NHE undertaken
either before (BT) or after (AT) simulated football training. Twelve amateur players performed six sets
of five repetitions of the NHE either before or after 60 min of standardised football-specific exercise
(SAFT60
). Surface electromyography signals (EMG) of the hamstring muscles were recorded during both
the NHE, and maximum eccentric actions of the knee flexors (0.52 rad · s–1
) performed before and after
the NHE programme, and at 15 min intervals during SAFT60
. Ten-metre sprint times were recorded on
three occasions during each 15 min SAFT60
segment. Greater eccentric hamstring fatigue following the
NHE programme was observed in BT versus AT (19.8 %; very likely small effect), which was particularly
apparent in the latter range of knee flexion (0–15°; 39.6%; likely moderate effect), and synonymous with
hamstring EMG declines (likely small–likely moderate effects). Performing NHE BT attenuated sprint
performance declines (2.0–3.2%; likely small effects), but decreased eccentric hamstring peak torque
(–14.1 to –18.9%; likely small effects) during football-specific exercise. Performing NHE prior to football
training reduces eccentric hamstring strength and may exacerbate hamstring injury risk.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Accepted 8 May 2016
KEYWORDS
Hamstring strain; injury
prevention; eccentric
strength; scheduling
Introduction
Epidemiological studies have consistently shown hamstring
strain injuries (HSIs) to have a high prevalence rate in many
sports, such as sprinting (11%; Lysholm & Wiklander, 1987),
Australian Rules Football (16–23%; Orchard, 2001; Orchard,
Marsden, Lord, & Garlick, 1997) and football (12–14%:
Ekstrand, Hagglund, & Walden, 2011; Hawkins, Hulse,
Wilkinson, Hodson, & Gibson, 2001). The epidemiology and
aetiology of HSI in football has received extensive attention in
the scientific literature (Ekstrand et al., 2011; Woods et al., 2004),
given the economic burden associated with professional
players missing training and competitive fixtures (Woods,
Hawkins, Hulse, & Hodson, 2002). Whilst there is far less epide-
miological data available for amateur and recreational football,
there is some evidence to suggest that the proportion of ham-
string injuries incurred in amateur players is not different to
professionals (15.3%; van Beijsterveldt et al., 2015).
The aetiology of HSI is multi-factorial, with a variety of risk
factors that interact (see Opar, Williams, & Shield, 2012, for a
review). The interaction between hamstring muscle strength
and fatigue in particular has attracted interest in the research
literature due to their modifiable nature (Marshall, Lovell,
Jeppesen, Andersen, & Siegler, 2014; Small, McNaughton,
Greig, & Lovell, 2010). Forty-seven percent of HSIs are incurred
during the latter stages of each half of match-play (Woods
et al., 2004), with this increased incidence synonymous with
knee flexor isometric (Marshall et al., 2014) and eccentric
(Lovell, Midgley, Barrett, Carter, & Small, 2013) strength
declines observed during football match simulations. Knee
flexor eccentric strength is considered an important risk factor
for HSI (Croisier, Ganteaume, Binet, Genty, & Ferret, 2008; Opar
et al., 2014), and 57% of injuries occur during running, with
the majority identified proximal to the musculotendon junc-
tion of the bicep femoris long head (Garrett, 1996; Woods
et al., 2004). Taken together, these epidemiological observa-
tions have led to the development of a theoretical model of
injury mechanism, in which strain injury results from the syn-
chronous development of peak musculotendon force and
elongation stress in the biceps femoris (BF) in order to decele-
rate the limb during the terminal swing phase of knee exten-
sion (Guex & Millet, 2013; Verrall, Slavotinek, Barnes, Fon, &
Spriggins, 2001).
This injury model forms the premise of the Nordic hamstring
exercise (NHE), which aims to develop eccentric hamstring
strength at the elongated muscle lengths associated with injury
(Mjølsnes, Arnason, Osthagen, Raastad, & Bahr, 2004). Indeed,
randomised controlled trials of football players performing a
programme of NHEs have demonstrated improvements in peak
eccentric torque of the knee flexors (Iga, Fruer, Deighan, Croix, &
James, 2012; Mjølsnes et al., 2004) and reduction in injury rates
(Arnason, Andersen, Holme, Engebretsen, & Bahr, 2008; Petersen,
Thorborg, Nielsen, Budtz-Jørgensen, & Hölmich, 2011; van der
Horst, Smits, Petersen, Goedhart, & Backx, 2015). The NHE is a
partner exercise that can be performed on the training field
without advanced training equipment and expertise, and is one
of the exercises in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme
CONTACT Ric Lovell r.lovell@westernsydney.edu.au School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751,
Australia
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES, 2016
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designed to reduce injuries in players, particularly amateur and
recreational players whom represent more than 99% of FIFA’s
265 million registered participants (FIFA, 2006). Although profes-
sional players often have access to sports medicine expertise and
training facilities to prevent non-contact injury incidence, a
recent survey identified that the NHE was also adopted by 66%
of 44 premier league clubs sampled from leagues around the
world, whom ranked it in the top five effective exercises for injury
prevention (McCall et al., 2014).
Whilst the NHE is prevalently used, its use as a training inter-
vention has not always translated into eccentric hamstring
strength gains (Clark, Bryant, Culgan, & Hartley, 2005) or reduced
injury incidence (Goldman & Jones, 2010). This may, in part, be
explained by the limited evidence base pertaining to the optimal
prescription and scheduling of injury prevention exercises
(McCall et al., 2014). The uncertainty in regards to the optimal
scheduling of the NHE relative to the football training session is
represented by intervention studies which have applied the NHE
exercise either before (Iga et al., 2012) or after training (Clark
et al., 2005; van der Horst et al., 2015), or not disclosed this
information (Mjølsnes et al., 2004; Petersen et al., 2011).
However given the aetiological role of fatigue (Mair, Seaber,
Glisson, & Garrett, 1996) and muscle weakness (Croisier et al.,
2008; Opar et al., 2014) in HSI, performing the NHE before the
main training stimulus may exacerbate eccentric hamstring fati-
gue during training (Marshall, Lovell, Brennan, Knox, & Siegler,
2015), and thus render the players more susceptible to injury.
An alternative solution to this scheduling dilemma is to per-
form injury prevention exercises, particularly those focusing on
strength development such as the NHE, at the end of the field-
training session. This strategy avoids the exacerbation of fatigue
and the accompanied predisposition to HSI during training, with-
out necessarily reducing the compliance. However, it is presently
unclear whether scheduling the NHE programme in a fatigued
state after football-training sessions alters the training stimuli to
the hamstring muscles. Hence, the aim of our study was to
examine the time-course of neuromuscular and performance
responses to an acute programme of NHE, which was adminis-
tered either before (BT) or after (AT) a simulated football training
session in a controlled experimental context. Data of this nature is
necessary to inform the scheduling of the NHE relative to training
sessions, to optimise players’ training adaptation and ultimately
reduce the risk of incurring a HSI. We hypothesised that perform-
ing the NHE programme before training would result in greater
eccentric hamstring fatigue and reduced muscle activity during
the subsequent training session.
Methods
Participants
Twelve amateur male football players aged between 18 and
35 years were recruited for this study (age: 22 ± 5 years; body
mass: 70.8 ± 6.6 kg; stature: 1.79 ± 0.08 m). The players
routinely participated in two training sessions and one com-
petitive match per in-season week. Male players were used in
this study because of their greater propensity to HSI (Cross,
Gurka, Saliba, Conaway, & Hertel, 2013). Furthermore, an ama-
teur cohort was selected in our design because the NHE
intervention is routinely implemented as part of the FIFA 11
+ injury prevention programme to reduce hamstring muscle
strain injuries for players whom may not have access to the
necessary equipment and/or the expertise required for
eccentric strength training of the hamstring muscle group.
The players were familiar with the NHE, having undertaken
the exercise previously within football training sessions, and
had participated in two laboratory familiarisation sessions
(four sets of five repetitions per session) and a previous
research trial (six sets of five repetitions; Marshall et al., 2015)
within the past 4–6 weeks. Players were free from any muscu-
loskeletal injury and had been so for the preceding 6 months.
The procedures for the study were approved by the institu-
tional human ethics committee (H9840) and conformed to the
Declaration of Helsinki. Players provided written and verbal
consent to participate in the study.
Procedures
The players attended the temperature-controlled laboratory
(temperature 21.9 ± 1.4°C; relative humidity: 53 ± 8%) on
two occasions separated by a week, having been familiarised
with the experimental procedures a priori. Players were
instructed to arrive in a 2-h post-prandial state, and to ingest
500 ml of water in the hour prior to arrival. In the preceding
24 h, a food and fluid intake diary was completed so that it
could be replicated prior to the second experimental trial.
Fluid intake during laboratory trials was permitted ad libitum
and recorded during the first experimental visit, and replicated
in the subsequent trial. Players did not undertake any stren-
uous or unaccustomed exercise in the 24-h before trials, and
were restricted from alcohol and caffeine ingestion during this
time. Repeated trials were scheduled for the same time of day
to negate the influence of diurnal variation upon outcome
measures.
Players then performed a standardised 15-min football-
specific warm-up routine that consisted of multi-directional
running drills and dynamic flexibility actions. Thereafter, four
sub-maximal eccentric hamstring actions were performed on
the dynamometer (3 × 50% and 1 × 75% of players’ self-
determined maximum) to prepare for baseline maximal volun-
tary actions (MVA; see details in the following). After 60-s rest,
players then performed MVAs.
To mimic the demands of a training session, players per-
formed four 15-min bouts of SAFT90
for a total simulated
training session of 60-min duration (SAFT60
). The SAFT90
is a
standardised laboratory exercise protocol designed to mimic
the intermittent and multi-directional nature of running in
football match-play. SAFT90
has been shown to elicit both
the internal physiological response and external loading
demands of football (Barrett, Guard, & Lovell, 2013; Lovell,
Knapper, & Small, 2008; Lovell et al., 2013). The exercise pro-
tocol incorporates varying multi-lateral movements and run-
ning velocities that are prescribed by an audio MP3 file, which
is fixed to ensure that the absolute workload of the players is
standardised between repeated trials. In the modified SAFT60
protocol, players covered a total distance of 7.4 km, of which
18.5% was performed at running speeds ≥15 km · h−1
. During
each 15-min SAFT60
segment, heart rate was sampled
2 R. LOVELL ET AL.

continuously at 0.2 Hz (Polar Team System, Kempele, Finland)
and the players average 10-m sprint times (3-m rolling start)
were determined using light gates from three sprints at stan-
dardised time-points. SAFT60
bouts were separated by 4-min
rest intervals, during which MVA was measured (see Figure 1).
Nordic hamstring exercises
In a counter-balanced fashion, players performed a pro-
gramme of NHEs (six sets of five repetitions) either before or
after the simulated football-training session. This volume was
selected to replicate that typically administered in week 4 of
NHE training studies in sub-elite (Mjølsnes et al., 2004) and
amateur players (Petersen et al., 2011; van der Horst et al.,
2015), and was deemed appropriate for the eccentric training
history of our cohort (outlined earlier). The eccentric ham-
string strengthening exercises were performed with the assis-
tance of a partner. With the trainee in an upright kneeling
position, the partner applied pressure superior to the lateral
malleoli to provide stability and to isolate the hamstring mus-
cles. Players were instructed to “lock their hips out” to prevent
hip-flexion during the task. Trainee’s then slowly moved the
trunk forward and were instructed to control the forward-fall-
ing motion by engaging their hamstring muscles for as much
of the descent phase as possible. The player then allowed their
chest to contact the exercise mat in a prone position, and then
pushed forcefully back with the hands to ascend to the start-
ing position with minimal concentric hamstring muscle activ-
ity. A metronome was used to control the descent phase as
close to 0.52 rad · s−1
as possible, with 6-s between subse-
quent repetitions within a set, and 60-s rest permitted
between sets. Whilst the NHE descent phase velocity is not
typically prescribed in training environments, and even under
controlled conditions varies throughout the range of motion
(Iga et al., 2012), we adopted this average repetition cadence
in an attempt to reduce variation in the fatigue and electro-
myogram (EMG) responses to repeated sets of the exercise
both within- and between-laboratory visits. The knee flexion
angle was recorded during each NHE repetition via an electro-
goniometer (MLTS 700, ADI instruments, Australia) centred
over the lateral malleolus of the left-limb. Data was recorded
at 2000 Hz using a data acquisition system (Powerlab 16/35,
ADI instruments, Australia) and knee angular velocity was
calculated as the derivative and smoothed with a 151-point
sliding window. EMG and knee flexion angle were continu-
ously monitored during every NHE repetition. Peak torque
assessments with EMG recordings were administered before
and after the NHE programme (see details in the following), as
well as after every 15 min during the simulated football train-
ing session to determine the time-profile of responses.
Hamstring strength
The KinCom isokinetic dynamometer (Chattanooga, KinCom
125 Version 5.32) was used to determine eccentric strength
of the knee flexors at 0.52 rad · s−1
. Maximal actions were
performed in the right leg of all participants using a cuff
applied 2 cm superior to the lateral malleolus. Participants
performed assessments in a prone position and were
restrained via straps beneath and above the gluteal muscles
to isolate knee flexor muscle activity. Torque was recorded via
a strain gauge located in the lever arm of the dynamometer,
the pivot arm of which was aligned to the lateral femoral
epicondyle. A priori, the relative limb weight of the participant
was measured at approximately 15° knee flexion to determine
the limb moment, so that gravity-corrected torque values
could be determined throughout the range of motion using
the cosine rule. Torque signals and the lever arm angle were
recorded at 2000 Hz using an analogue to digital converter
(Powerlab 16/35, ADI instruments, Australia; 16-bit analogue to
digital conversion) and smoothed by a digital low pass filter
cut off at 50 Hz. Maximal torque (N · m) was defined as the
greatest torque value recorded during three maximal volun-
tary eccentric actions, which were interceded by 10-s rest. As
previous research has shown angle-specific reductions in knee
flexor strength and muscle activity following the NHE (Marshall
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the experimental design in the before and after training trials. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) schematics represent
scheduling of the six sets of five NHE repetitions relative to the simulated training session. Muscle images represent the timing of maximal voluntary actions. Vertical
bars represent the activity profile of a 15-min SAFT60
segment, with each sprint performance assessment denoted by each running image.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES 3

et al., 2015) and simulated football match-play (Marshall et al.,
2014), average torque and EMG amplitude were determined
for each 15 increment from 90° knee flexion to full extension
(0° knee flexion angle). Participants were instructed to contract
their hamstrings “as forcefully as possible” throughout the full
range of motion, with verbal encouragement provided by two
investigators throughout.
Hamstring muscle EMG
Hamstrings EMG were recorded from the right BF and medial
hamstrings (MHs) using pairs of Ag/AgCl surface electrodes
(Maxsensor, Medimax Global, Australia). BF and MH electrodes
(10-mm diameter, 10-mm inter-electrode distance) were
applied to the muscle after careful skin preparation including
removal of excess hair, abrasion with fine sandpaper, and
cleaning the area with isopropyl alcohol swabs. Placement
over BF and MH was in accordance with previous recommen-
dations (Rainoldi, Melchiorri, & Caruso, 2004). The superior
electrode was placed longitudinally 35% along a line from
the ischial tuberosity to the lateral aspect of the popliteal
cavity, and 36% along a line from the ischial tuberosity to
the medial side of the popliteal cavity for BF and MH, respec-
tively. A ground electrode was placed on the most prominent
bony aspect of the tibia. EMG signals were recorded at
2000 Hz using an analogue to digital converter (Powerlab
16/35, ADI instruments, Australia; 16-bit analogue to digital
conversion), amplified (ML138 Octal Bio Amp, ADI instruments,
Australia) and band pass filtered (between 10 and 500 Hz).
EMG signals were subsequently rectified and smoothed using
a root mean square (RMS) calculation with a 200-ms sliding
window (mV). Average RMS EMG of both BF and MH were
analysed in 15° movement epochs during the 90° excursion of
both the MVAs and the NHE repetitions, and were normalised
(nEMG) according to the peak EMG amplitudes determined in
each 15° epoch during the baseline MVAs recorded at the start
of each experimental trial.
Statistics
Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data
analysis was undertaken using a pre–post crossover trial with
adjustment for a predictor spreadsheet (Hopkins, 2006).
Differences between trials were expressed as percentages
determined from log-transformed and subsequently back-
transformed data, with 90% confidence intervals (CI) reported
as estimates of uncertainty (Hopkins, Marshall, Batterham, &
Hanin, 2009). Baseline measures of each outcome variable
were used as a covariate to account for any between
trial imbalances. The magnitude of the effect statistic was
classified as small, moderate or large via standardised
thresholds (0.2, 0.6 and 1.2, respectively) established from
the between-participant SD. Mechanistic inferences were
then determined from the disposition of the 90% CI for the
mean difference to these standardised thresholds according to
the magnitude-based inferences approach (Hopkins et al.,
2009). Where the 90% CI overlapped the thresholds for the
smallest worthwhile change in both a positive and negative
sense, the true effect was classified as unclear. In the event
that a clear interpretation was possible, the following prob-
abilistic terms were adopted: 75–95%, likely; 95–99.5%, very
likely; >99.5%, most likely (Hopkins et al., 2009).
Results
Players average (BT: 162 ± 15 beats · min−1
; AT: 163 ± 18 beats
· min−1
) and peak (BT: 182 ± 12 beats · min−1
; AT: 181 ± 14
beats · min−1
) heart rates recorded during the simulated train-
ing session did not differ between experimental trials.
Acute MVA responses to the NHE programme
The acute changes in eccentric hamstring peak torque as a
result of the NHE programme is shown in Figure 2. The
eccentric torque decrement was very likely greater in BT
versus AT (19.8%; 90% CI: 11.5–27.8%; very likely small effect).
Pre-NHE peak torque was 15.5% lower in the AT (90% CI: 8.2–
22.2%; very likely small effect). Figure 3 depicts the BT versus
AT differences in eccentric hamstring average torque
changes in each 15° knee flexion angular epoch. The acute
decrement in average torque following NHE was greater
(11.7–39.6%) in each 15° range when performed BT, with
the greatest force decline observed between 15° and 0°
knee flexion (39.6%; 90% CI: 20.2–62.1%; likely moderate
effect). Average eccentric torque was 9.9–19.9% (likely–very
likely small effects) lower across the range of motion prior to
performing NHE in AT.
MVA responses during football training
Figure 4 depicts the eccentric peak torque measured before
and during the simulated football training session. Performing
the NHE programme BT resulted in greater eccentric peak
torque declines from baseline (14.1–18.9%; likely small effects).
Greater eccentric torque declines were observed for each 15°
epoch in BT after 15 min of SAFT60
(Figure 5; 19.5–38.1%; likely
Figure 2. Peak eccentric hamstring torque determined via maximal voluntary
actions performed at 0.52 rad · s−1
. Actions were measured pre- and post-six
sets of five NHE repetitions, performed either before or after a simulated foot-
ball training session. #
S denotes a very likely small effect, that the fatigue in
eccentric hamstring peak torque was greater when NHEs were performed before
vs. after training.
4 R. LOVELL ET AL.

small–likely moderate effects). The greater declines persisted
throughout the remainder of the training session between 75°
and 15° of knee flexion, whereas the fatiguing effect was not
different between trials until 30 and 45 min in the 15–0° and
90–75° range, respectively.
EMG during maximal actions
Reductions in average hamstring nEMG amplitudes following
NHE were greater in BT versus AT (see Figure 6). In the BF, likely
small effects were observed in the 75–60° and 45–15° epochs,
with likely moderate effects observed in the 60–45° and 15–0°
ranges. MHs nEMG was also lower following NHE in BT, with
likely small effects denoted in the 75–30° and 15–0° epochs.
Declines in average BF nEMG (36.8–62.8%; very likely mod-
erate–most likely large effects) were observed after 15 min of
training across the range of motion epochs (21.4–44.9%;
likely–very likely small effects) and persisted for the duration
of the simulated training session, however, there were no
between-trial differences. The amplitude of MH activity was
also reduced following SAFT60
(31.0–74.9%; likely moderate–
most likely large effects), with greater declines recorded
Figure 3. Average eccentric hamstring torque throughout 15° range of motion epochs measured pre- and post-six sets of five NHE repetitions, performed either
before (a) or after (b) a simulated football training session. Symbols denote a greater fatiguing effect compared to baseline (0 min) when the exercises were
performed before vs. after training. S = small effect size; M = moderate effect size; * = likely; #
= very likely.
Figure 4. Peak eccentric torque determined via maximal voluntary actions
performed at 0.52 rad · s−1
before and during a simulated football training
session. Participants performed six sets of five NHE repetitions after baseline
(0 min) measures in the before training trial. Symbols denote a greater fatiguing
effect compared to baseline (0 min) when NHEs were performed before vs. after
training. *S = likely small effect.
Figure 5. Average eccentric hamstring torque throughout 15° range of motion epochs measured during maximal voluntary actions performed at 0.52 rad · s−1
.
actions were performed before and during a simulated football training session. Participants performed six sets of five NHE repetitions after baseline (0 min)
measures in the before training trial. Symbols denote a greater fatiguing effect compared to baseline (0 min) when NHEs were performed before vs. after training.
S = small effect size; M = moderate effect size; * = likely; #
= very likely; ^ = most likely.

between 90° and 30° knee flexion following 15–30 min of
training in the BT trial (20.5–39.9%; likely–very likely small
effects).
NHE
The average knee velocity was not different during the des-
cent phases of the NHE programme when administered either
BT (0.60 ± 0.08 rad · s−1
) or AT (0.62 ± 0.12 rad · s−1
). We also
observed no between-trial or between-set differences in the
average nEMG amplitudes of BF and MH throughout the range
of motion when performing the NHE.
Sprint performance
Changes in sprint performance during the training simulation
are presented in Figure 7. Performing the NHE programme BT
attenuated the decline in sprint performance observed during
the simulation (2.0–3.2%; likely small effects).
Discussion
The aim of this study was to examine the time-course of
performance and neuromuscular responses to a programme
of Nordic hamstring exercises administered either before or
after a simulated football training session. The key findings of
the study were: (1) performing the NHE before simulated
training resulted in greater eccentric hamstring strength
decrements, which persisted throughout the training session;
(2) the fatiguing effect of the NHE was angle-specific, with the
Figure 6. Average normalised bicep femoris (a and b) and medial hamstrings (c and d) surface electromyography (EMG) amplitudes during maximal eccentric
voluntary actions. Data is presented in 15° range of motion epochs measured pre- and post-six sets of five NHE repetitions, performed either before or after a
simulated football training session. Symbols denote greater decreases in EMG versus baseline when NHEs were performed before training. S = small effect size;
M = medium effect size; * = likely. EMG amplitudes normalized to peaks attained for each 15° epoch during baseline MVAs in BT and AT conditions (nEMG).
Figure 7. Average sprint performance determined from 3 × 10 m sprints
embedded into the simulated football training session. Participants performed
six sets of five NHE repetitions either before or after the training session.
Symbols denote greater declines in sprint performance vs. baseline when
NHEs were performed after training. *S = likely small effect.
6 R. LOVELL ET AL.

greatest strength decrements observed at elongated muscle
lengths; (3) muscle activity during maximal voluntary actions
was suppressed after 15 min of the simulated training session,
and to a greater extent when the NHE was performed before-
hand, particularly in the early range of motion for knee flexion;
(4) muscle activity recorded during the NHE repetitions was
not different when performed either before or after simulated
training and (5) SAFT60
-induced decrements in sprint perfor-
mance were attenuated by performing the NHE prior to
training.
Performing six sets of five repetitions of the NHE before the
simulated training session induced greater eccentric muscle
fatigue, as identified in terms of peak torque and average
torque reductions throughout the range of motion. Of particu-
lar interest was the greater fatiguing response identified in the
15–0° epoch for knee flexion. The simulated training session
also induced angle-specific decrements in eccentric hamstring
torque independent of NHE, as determined from the AT data. In
this trial, in which players had not yet undertaken the NHE
programme, eccentric hamstring torque decrements in an elon-
gated position (15–0° knee flexion: 18.2–21.8%; likely small
effect) were identified earliest from 15 min onwards, whereas
in the mid-range position (45–15°) declines were not apparent
until 60 min. These findings are particularly relevant for HSI,
because fatigue in extended joint positions is commensurate
with the terminal swing phase of knee extension during run-
ning, where development of musculotendon force under peak
elongation stress is necessary to decelerate the limb in prepara-
tion for ground contact (Guex & Millet, 2013; Verall et al., 2001).
The angle-specific nature of eccentric fatigue observed in this
study supports the premise of the NHE, which purports to
develop eccentric strength at long muscle lengths (Mjølsnes
et al., 2004). However, when performed prior to the training
session, fatiguing the hamstrings may exacerbate the risk of HSI
incidence during football activity, given the aetiological roles of
both muscle weakness (Croisier et al., 2008; Opar et al., 2014)
and fatigue (Mair et al., 1996).
The greater angle-specific reductions in torque identified
immediately after the NHE programme prescribed before foot-
ball training was synonymous with decreased EMG activity in
the bicep femoris and MHs, particularly in the 15–0° range of
knee flexion. This finding supports previous observations from
our laboratory, which identified suppressed EMG of the BF
after just one set of five NHE repetitions (Marshall et al.,
2015). We have also previously observed a reduction in
bicep femoris activity during isometric eccentric hamstring
actions in an extended joint position (10° knee flexion) after
45 min of SAFT90
(Marshall et al., 2014). In this study, large
declines in EMG activity during maximal voluntary actions
were evident in both the BF and MHs (semi-membranosis
and semi-tendinosis) throughout the range of motion follow-
ing 15 min of SAFT60
. At this time, the reductions in MH
activity were also greater when the NHE was administered
before the simulated training session. The origins of sup-
pressed muscle activity after high-intensity eccentric exercise,
particularly in extended joint positions, remain unclear, but
may result from the damaging nature of both the NHE
(Brockett, Morgan, & Proske, 2001) and football (Andersson
et al., 2008; Magalhães et al., 2010), creating nociceptive
inhibition (Le Pera et al., 2001) that suppresses the discharge
rate of motor units (Farina, Arendt-Nielsen, Merletti, & Graven-
Nielsen, 2004) and the drive to the muscle (Hedayatpour, Falla,
Arendt-Nielsen, & Farina, 2008). The immediate reduction in
bicep femoris activity at extended knee joint angles is impor-
tant because the long-head of this muscle experiences the
greatest activation (Onishi et al., 2002) and elongation stress
of the hamstrings muscles in this position during sprinting
(Thelen et al., 2005). Thus a suppressed activity may compro-
mise the muscles ability to rapidly generate the force required
to decelerate knee extension, predisposing the player to HSI.
Nonetheless, further research is necessary to examine the
potential presence and magnitude of muscle damage afforded
by injury prevention exercises prior to football training.
Whilst the amplitude of EMG activity was suppressed as a
result of the simulated football training session, we did not see
a change in either BF or MH muscle activity during the NHE
repetitions performed AT. Since hamstring muscle activity and
descent velocities were not different between NHEs adminis-
tered either before or after training, it may be reasonable to
suggest that prescribing the exercises in a fatigued state (after
training) does not alter the movement technique or the train-
ing stimulus. Further research is required to examine if chronic
training adaptations to the NHE are also influenced by their
scheduling relative to the main field-training session.
An unexpected finding in this investigation was that sprint
performance was better when NHE was performed before train-
ing. Given the fatiguing nature of the NHE, we expected reduc-
tions in sprint performance when the exercise was performed
prior to training. In contrast, the BT trial attenuated the SAFT-
induced decrements in sprint performance observed both here
in the AT trial, as well as in previous studies (Lovell et al., 2008,
2013). Although not all studies have shown changes in sprint
performance with SAFT90
(Marshall et al., 2014; Nédélec et al.,
2013), the interaction effect observed in this study implies that
NHE prior to training potentiated sprint performance. Whilst
speculative, the decreased antagonistic function of the ham-
string muscle group as a consequence of the exercise may
have resulted in greater transmission of knee extensor and hip
flexor forces during the gait cycle. Irrespective of the mechan-
ism, sprint performance gains of this magnitude during pro-
longed intermittent exercise are similar to those induced by
post-activation potentiation (Zois, Bishop, & Aughey, 2014) and
pre-cooling prior to exercise in hot environmental conditions
(Castle et al., 2006). The potentiation of sprint performance in
this study is also equivalent to chronic high-intensity training
programmes (Dupont, Akakpo, & Berthoin, 2004; Siegler, Gaskill,
& Ruby, 2003) and, therefore, likely to be appealing to both
coaches and conditioning practitioners. However, given the
role of muscle fatigue (Mair et al., 1996) and weakness (Croisier
et al., 2008; Opar et al., 2014) in HSI susceptibility, we would
suggest caution in applying the NHE in the pre-training or
match warm-up. Further experimental work may be required
to determine the mechanism of sprint performance potentiation
after NHE, and to examine if an optimal NHE dose and schedule
can be determined, which realises the acute potentiating effect
of sprint performance without exacerbating HSI risk.
In this study, we elected to use amateur players because
they represent over 99% of FIFA’s registered playing

population (FIFA, 2006). Accordingly, we would advise caution
in generalising our results to those performing at higher stan-
dards of play. However, whilst differing experimental config-
urations make data from isokinetic dynamometry studies
difficult to compare, there appear to be little differences in
knee extensor peak torque between professional (Rampinini
et al., 2011) and semi-professional players (Lovell et al., 2013;
Small et al., 2010), nor between eccentric hamstring strength
of professionals (Iga et al., 2012) and the amateur players
adopted in this study. Hence, we would still caution against
performing high volumes of NHE immediately prior to training
in well-trained players. The amateur players recruited in this
study did however display earlier and more pronounced
reductions in eccentric hamstring strength (15.1–20.3%) versus
semi-professional cohorts that have undertaken the SAFT90
protocol in previous studies (3–11.6%; Lovell et al., 2013;
Small et al., 2010). This likely reflects a comparatively higher
degree of fatigability, and may partially explain the equivalent
proportion of HSI recorded in amateur versus professional
players (van Beijsterveldt et al., 2015), despite the lesser explo-
sive physical demands of amateur football (Dellal, Hill-Haas,
Lago-Penas, & Chamari, 2011). Accordingly, it is reasonable to
suggest that amateur and recreational players might have a
higher propensity to HSI by exacerbating eccentric hamstring
fatigue prior to training, and the scheduling of the NHE before
training might be re-considered (Marshall et al., 2015).
Prescribing 30 repetitions of the NHE immediately prior to
football training in this study may not reflect current practice,
and it also represents a threat to the generalisability of our
conclusions. For example, the FIFA 11+ programme recom-
mends only 3–5, 7–10 or 12–15 NHE repetitions for beginner,
intermediate and advanced trainers respectively, as part of the
warm-up. However, our prescription was based upon training
studies that have used the NHE per se to eccentrically
strengthen the hamstrings in sub-elite (Mjølsnes et al., 2004)
and amateur players (Petersen et al., 2011; van der Horst et al.,
2015), and we have previously observed eccentric hamstring
fatigue after just five NHE repetitions in a similar amateur
cohort (Marshall et al., 2015). It is unclear whether a more
prolonged interval between the NHE and the start of simu-
lated training may lessen the residual fatigue, and further
research may be necessary to determine the time-course of
eccentric strength declines acutely following the NHE.
Conclusion
In summary, this study demonstrated that performing repeated
sets of NHEs before football training exacerbated eccentric ham-
string fatigue. This fatigue was manifest in terms of both peak
and angle-specific decrements in force generating capacity that
may render the players more susceptible to hamstring strain
injury acutely during the subsequent field training session.
Based on the findings of this study and previous work
(Marshall et al., 2015), we would suggest that practitioners pre-
scribe this exercise either after the field training, or where
appropriate schedule it as either a home-based intervention or
in a separate conditioning session. Further work is warranted to
examine the merits of scheduling other strength and plyo-
metric-based injury prevention exercises as preparation for
football activity (such as part 2 of the FIFA 11+), with particular
regard to injury risk factors.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Matthew Stewart and Benjamin Gonano
for their assistance with data collection, and the players for their participa-
tion in the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Funding
This work was supported by the NSW Sports Research and Injury
Prevention Scheme.
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