Abstract
Background: The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the biceps femoris long head activation across cross-sectional hamstring strength exercise studies. Methods: A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databases found a total of 3643 studies. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 29 studies were finally included in this systematic review. A total of 507 participants and 114 different exercises were analyzed. Exercises were evaluated individually and grouped into several categories: Nordics, isokinetic exercises, lunges, squats, deadlifts, good mornings, hip thrusts, bridges, leg curls, swings, hip and back extensions, and others. Results: Results showed the isokinetic and Nordic exercises as the categories with highest biceps femoris activation (>60% of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). Nordic hamstring exercise ankle dorsiflexion was the exercise that achieved the highest biceps femoris long head activation (128.1% of its Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). Conclusions: The results from this systematic review suggest that isokinetic and Nordic exercises seem to be the best option to activate biceps femoris long head. Future studies evaluating the implementation of these exercises in prevention programs are needed.
Highlights
Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is one of the most common injuries in sports involving high-intensity sprinting, acceleration, and decelerations [1]
The search strategy found a total of 3643 studies (PubMed: 987; ScienceDirect: 2083; Cochrane Library: 573)
The results have shown that the Nordic hamstring exercise with ankle dorsiflexion is the exercise achieving the highest biceps femoris long head (BFlh) muscle activation
Summary
Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is one of the most common injuries in sports involving high-intensity sprinting, acceleration, and decelerations [1]. The biceps femoris long head (BFlh) is the most affected muscle, involving around 80%. Around 30% of HSIs are recurrent injuries [4]. HSI is a primary risk factor of a re-injury across literature [5,6]. Research into BFlh injuries continues to develop and has led to a better understanding of the problem [7]. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the biceps femoris long head activation across cross-sectional hamstring strength exercise studies. Methods: A systematic review design was followed. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 29 studies were included in this systematic review. Results: Results showed the isokinetic and Nordic exercises as the categories with highest biceps femoris activation
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