Abstract
To train hamstring muscle specifically to sprint, strengthening programs should target exercises associated with horizontal force production and high levels of hamstring activity. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze the correlation between force production capacities during sprinting and hamstring strengthening exercises, and to compare hamstring muscle activity during sprinting and these exercises. Fourteen track and field regional level athletes performed two maximal 50-m sprints and six strengthening exercises: Nordic hamstring exercises without and with hip flexion, Upright-hip-extension in isometric and concentric modalities, Standing kick, and Slide-leg-bridge. The sprinting horizontal force production capacity at low (F0) and high (V0) speeds was computed from running velocity data. Hamstring muscle performances were assessed directly or indirectly during isolated exercises. Hamstring muscle electromyographic activity was recorded during all tasks. Our results demonstrate substantially large to very large correlations between V0 and performances in the Upright-hip-extension in isometric (rs = 0.56; p = 0.040), Nordic hamstring exercise without hip flexion (rs = 0.66; p = 0.012) and with 90° hip flexion (rs = 0.73; p = 0.003), and between F0 and Upright-hip-extension in isometric (rs = 0.60; p = 0.028) and the Nordic hamstring exercise without hip flexion (rs = 0.59; p = 0.030). However, none of the test exercises activated hamstring muscles more than an average of 60% of the maximal activation during top-speed sprinting. In conclusion, training programs aiming to be sprint-specific in terms of horizontal force production could include exercises such as the Upright-hip-extension and the Nordic hamstring exercise, in addition to maximal sprinting activity, which is the only exercise leading to high levels of hamstring muscle activity.
Highlights
Sprinting acceleration is a key component in numerous sports aiming to cover a given distance in the shortest time (Morin et al, 2011; Bourne et al, 2018)
A total of 14 sprinters (7 women and 7 men; age: 19.5 ± 3.2 years; body mass: 64.9 ± 8.8 kg; height: 1.72 ± 0.11 m; years of practice: 10 ± 4.6; hours of training per week: 7.0 ± 1.1) trained for sprint running, and who met the inclusion criteria, gave their written consent to participate in the study
Reliability was excellent for standing kick (SK) (ICC: 0.96–0.99; SEM: 2.44%); for NHE0 (ICC: 0.95–0.99; SEM: 6.55%); for NHE90 (ICC: 0.90– 0.99; SEM: 7.73%); reliability was good for upright hip extension (UHE)-C (ICC: 0.86– 0.98; SEM: 14.5%) for slide leg bridge (SB) (ICC: 0.78–0.97; SEM: 19.5%); for UHEI (ICC: 0.81–0.97; SEM: 6.96%); for Vmax (ICC: 0.89–0.98; SEM: 3.53%), and for V0 (ICC: 0.85–0.98; SEM: 3.67%), and reliability was moderate for F0 (ICC: 0.69–0.96; SEM: 6.62%)
Summary
Sprinting acceleration is a key component in numerous sports aiming to cover a given distance in the shortest time (Morin et al, 2011; Bourne et al, 2018). Hamstring muscles play a major role in high-speed running (Morin et al, 2015), and sprinting solicits hamstring muscles in various modalities, from the mid-swing phase to the beginning of the stance phase (Yu et al, 2008; Schache et al, 2012; Howard et al, 2018; KenneallyDabrowski et al, 2019) These specificities should be taken into account when selecting isolated training exercises that aim to stimulate and train hamstring function with the highest possible degree of transfer to actual sprint tasks and performance
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