NCT07171385

Posterior Chain EMG Patterns in Athletes With and Without Hamstring Injury

Persistent Neuromuscular Deficits in the Posterior Kinetic Chain Following Hamstring Strain Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study Using EMG

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 42 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This cross-sectional observational study investigated posterior chain muscle activation patterns in football players with and without a history of hamstring strain injury. Forty-two male athletes were assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) during Nordic Hamstring Curl, Kettlebell Swing, and Supine Sliding Leg Curl exercises. Results demonstrated persistent deficits in biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, latissimus dorsi, and iliocostalis lumborum activation in previously injured athletes compared to controls, suggesting that neuromuscular alterations extend beyond the hamstring itself and may increase reinjury risk.

Conditions

• Muscle Strain
• Neuromuscular Diseases
• Athletic Injuries

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Nordic Hamstring Curl (NHC)	Knee-dominant eccentric hamstring strengthening exercise performed on a padded surface. Participants control the descent of the torso while knees remain fixed, emphasizing eccentric activation of hamstring muscles.
OTHER	Kettlebell Swing (KS)	Hip-dominant ballistic movement involving rapid hip flexion-extension using a kettlebell (16-20 kg depending on participant's ability). Each repetition includes concentric, isometric, and eccentric phases standardized by metronome pacing.
OTHER	Supine Sliding Single-Leg Curl (SSLC)	Closed-chain exercise performed in supine position with heels placed on sliding discs. One leg is extended while the other leg performs concentric-eccentric sliding curl.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-11-11
• Primary completion: 2023-12-10
• Completion: 2024-03-10
• First posted: 2025-09-12
• Last updated: 2025-09-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)