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. 2024 Mar 2;19(3):275-283.
doi: 10.26603/001c.92745. eCollection 2024.

The Effect of Variations in Knee and Hip Angles on Electromyographic Activity of the Hamstrings and Related Muscles During the Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Taspol Keerasomboon  1 , Toshiaki Soga  2   3   4 , Norikazu Hirose  5
Affiliations

The Effect of Variations in Knee and Hip Angles on Electromyographic Activity of the Hamstrings and Related Muscles During the Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Taspol Keerasomboon et al. Int J Sports Phys Ther. .

Abstract

Background: The benefit of performing the Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) on an inclined board has been described, however, isometric hamstring activation in different knee and hip angles has not yet been thoroughly explored.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of variations in knee and hip angles during the isometric performance of the NHE on electromyographic activity of the hamstring muscles.

Study design: Crossover study.

Methods: Thirteen male volunteers performed isometric contractions during the NHE with the knee (30°, 50°, 60°) and the hip (0°, 30°, and 45°) in various angles of flexion on a leg support platform which was inclined at 30°. An electrical goniometer was used to monitor the knee and hip joint angles during 5-s isometric contractions. A multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to compare normalized electromyographic values of each muscle across different knee and hip angles, followed by pairwise comparisons.

Results: The electromyographic activity of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus at a knee angle of 30° and hip angle of 0° were significantly higher than those observed with a knee angle of 50° and hip angle of 0°, or a knee angle of 60° and hip angle of 0° (p<0.05). The electromyographic activity of the semimembranosus at a knee angle of 60° and hip angle of 45° was significantly higher than values obtained with knee and hip angles of 60° and 0°, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The results indicate that using a knee flexion of 30° and a hip flexion of 0°, while isometrically performing the NHE on a platform inclined at 30°, may optimize electromyographic activity of the hamstrings.

Level of evidence: 3.

Keywords: hamstring exercise; hamstring muscle; hip flexion; isometric contraction; knee flexion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Nordic hamstring exercise on a leg support platform inclined at 30° during isometric contractions: A) K60H0 B), K60H30, C) K60H45, D) K50H0, E) K50H30, F) K50H45, G) K30H0, H) K30H30, I) K30H45.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Differences in nEMG (%MVIC) activity (Y axis) during knee flexion (30°, 50°, 60°) and hip flexion on the X axis (0°, 30°, 45°) in the BF, ST, SM, muscles during isometric NHE on a leg support platform inclined at 30°. The symbol * indicates a statistically significant difference between 60° and other angles. The symbol ** indicates a statistically significant difference between 50° and other angles. The symbol # indicates a statistically significant difference between a hip angle of 0° and other angles
BF=biceps femoris; ST=semitendinosus; SM=semimembranosus; ES=erector spinae; GM=gluteus maximus; AD= rectus abdominis; MVIC= maximal voluntary isometric contractions; NHE=Nordic hamstring exercise; nEMG=normalized electromyographic activity. K30= knee flexed to 30°, K50= knee flexed to 50°, K60= knee flexed to 60°.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Differences in nEMG (%MVIC) activity during knee flexion (30°, 50°, 60°) and hip flexion (0°, 30°, 45°) in the ES, GM, and AD muscles during isometric NHE on a leg support platform inclined at 30° The symbol * indicates a statistically significant difference between 60° and other angles. The symbol ** indicates a statistically significant difference between 50° and other angles. The symbol # indicates a statistically significant difference between a hip angle of 0° and other angles
BF=biceps femoris; ST=semitendinosus; SM=semimembranosus; ES=erector spinae; GM=gluteus maximus; AD= rectus abdominis; MVIC= maximal voluntary isometric contractions; NHE=Nordic hamstring exercise; nEMG=normalized electromyographic activity; K30= knee flexed to 30°, K50= knee flexed to 50°, K60= knee flexed to 60°.
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