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, Toshiaki Soga, Norikazu Hirose
PMID 38439779WHAT IT FOUND
For recreationally active men, holding the Nordic hamstring exercise with the knee at 30 degrees and hip at 0 degrees on a 30-degree inclined platform produced the highest muscle activity.
This specific angle combination may optimize the training stimulus for the hamstrings and back extensors.
Key findings
01Hamstring muscle activity was highest when the knee was flexed at 30 degrees and the hip at 0 degrees.
02Erector spinae activity was also significantly higher at the 30-degree knee and 0-degree hip position compared to other tested angles.
03Hip angle alone did not have a significant main effect on hamstring activity, but the combination of knee and hip angles did.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study only included men, so the results may not apply to women. The sample size was small (13 participants). The platform was fixed at a 30-degree incline; other inclines might yield different results. Surface EMG electrodes can move during contraction, potentially affecting the accuracy of the muscle activity readings. The study measured muscle activity (EMG), not actual strength gains or injury reduction.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this specific angle combination will reduce hamstring injuries or improve strength. The study only measured muscle electrical activity in a small group of men during an isometric hold, not the dynamic eccentric movement typically used in the Nordic hamstring exercise, nor any clinical outcomes.