Acute Effects of Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Muscle Strength and Muscle Stiffness in Soccer Players

The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effect of Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) applied to sub-elite football players on Hamstring (H) muscle strength values (maximum value and Total Work) and Muscle Stifness (Semimembrenous and Biceps Femoris) values. 43 sub-elite male (16.50 ± 0.505) football players participated in the study voluntarily. Participants' H muscle strength values were determined with N3 brand device; Muscle Stifness values were determined with myoton brand device. The normalcy analysis of the data acquired in the study was performed with the Kolmogrov Smirnov test. Participants' pre-test post-test comparisons were determined with the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test. Based on the statistical analysis, it was identified that NHE utilized to sub-elite football players increased the Total Work (right-left leg) value of the H muscle strength values acutely and the stiffness value of the Biceps Femoris muscle (right-left leg) significantly in the post-test. It may be argued that NHE applied to football players acutely increases H muscle strength and BF muscle stiffness value, provides performance efficiency and is a protective strategy against injuries.