Comparison Between Eccentric Hamstring Training and Sprint-Specific Training

Official title

Comparison Between Eccentric Hamstring Strength Training and Sprint-Specific Training on Muscle Hypertrophy, Strength, Power, and Sprint Performance in Club Sport Collegiate Athletes

Overview

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of an intensity-, volume-, and time under tension-matched eccentric hamstring exercise intervention with the Romanian deadlift (RDL) and the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) to a sprint-specific training program on hamstring muscle architecture, volume, sprint performance, strength, and power. Participants will be assigned to complete one of the 3 hamstring interventions for 10 weeks.

Detailed description

Prior to the intervention, participants will undergo baseline testing which will include a) ultrasound imaging of the hamstrings muscles for measures of biceps femoris long head fascicle length, pennation angle, muscle thickness, anatomical cross-sectional area, and muscle volume b) passive and active ranges of motion, c) 3 repetition maximum (3RM) RDL strength, d) peak NHE force, e) countermovement jump height, f) broad jump distance, g) Pro Agility change of direction, and h) a 60 m sprint with sprint kinematics assessed via inertial measurement units.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the RDL, NHE, or sprint training group. After randomization, each participant will undergo the intervention program based upon their group allocation.

Performance testing and imaging will be repeated mid-intervention, following the intervention, and after 2 weeks of deloading.

Interventions

• Other RDL
  The RDL will be performed with a 6 second eccentric component with the athlete returning to the start position with a maximal concentric hip extension.
• Other NHE
  The NHE will be performed with a 6 second eccentric component.
• Other Sprint testing
  The sprint training program will be performed twice per week with the first day of training focused on shorter distances to focus on acceleration and the second training day focused on maximal velocity. The relative efforts and distances for each training day will mimic a similar prescription to that of the resistance training program.

Primary outcome measures

• Change in fascicle length (FL) [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in muscle volume [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in pennation angle (PA) [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]

Secondary outcome measures (8)

• Change in eccentric strength [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in inertial measurement units (IMU)-based sprinting biomechanics [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in countermovement jump (CMJ) performance [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in standing broad jump (SBJ) performance [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in change of direction (CoD) performance [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in range of motion (ROM) performance [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in hip flexion [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]
• Change in anterior pelvic tilt [Time frame: Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-25 years
• Actively participating in a club team
• >6 months experience with resistance training
• Minimum of 1 year experience at the high school level in organized team sport
• No history of hamstring injury within the last 6 months
• No history of major lower extremity surgery (including back)
• No acute musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremity
• Not currently pregnant

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to refrain from resistance training outside the study
• Unable to make at least 80% of the training sessions
• Hamstring injury in the last 6 months
• History of major lower extremity surgery (including back)
• Acute musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremity
• Currently pregnant

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Double blind

Primary purpose

Other

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• University of Wisconsin - Madison — Madison

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07716319 · 2026-0704 · UWMSN | SOE | Kinesiology Oper · Protocol Version 5/5/26

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗