CHPS RESEARCH STUDIES

Characterizing Nordic Hamstring Exercise Performance

The purpose of this study is to learn more about hamstring muscle strength and joint mechanics during a Nordic Hamstring exercise. Hamstring injuries are common in a variety of field-based sports and the Nordic hamstring exercise has been strongly suggested to decrease hamstring injury risk in physically active and athletic populations. However, how peoples’ ankles, knees, hips, and trunk move when performing the Nordic hamstring exercise in relation to their hamstring strength still remains unclear. We expect that you will be in this research study for 1 session, lasting approximately 1 hour.

You will be asked to complete several online questionnaires that asks questions related to your physical activity level, knee function, familiarity & perceived difficulty with the Nordic hamstring exercise. You will have your height, weight, and leg length measured. In addition, you will wear sensors on your lower body and be asked to perform several repetitions of the Nordic hamstring exercise to assess your hamstring strength and biomechanics when performing the movement at the UCF Cognition, Neuroplasticity, & Sarcopenia (CNS) Laboratory.

Inclusion Qualifications:

Physically Active Adults (Current Tegner Activity Scale of at least 5)
Male and female adults, aged 18-30 years

Exclusion Qualifications:

You may not participate in this research opportunity if any of the following applies to you:

History of hamstring or gastrocnemius strain
History of lower extremity surgery
Lower extremity injury withing the previous 6 months
Current infection of the lower limb
Known or diagnosed muscular abnormalities
History of cardiopulmonary disorder
History of diagnosed neurological disorder (e.g. stroke, epilepsy or seizure, neuropathy, migraine)
History of psychiatric disorder (e.g. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, severe anxiety)
History of traumatic brain injury