Hamstring Training and Football Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this review was to evaluate the impact of strength training on hamstring muscle strength and physical performance in football players. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO. A literature search was performed using four electronic databases, such as Web of Science, SCOPUS, SportDiscuss, and PubMed. Randomized controlled trials conducted with football players aged 15 years or older were included. The studies were grouped according to moderating variables such as training protocol and physical performance outcomes. A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, with 10 studies included in the meta-analysis. Strength training programs demonstrated moderate to large effects on both concentric and eccentric strength of the hamstrings and quadriceps, as well as on physical performance measures such as jumping and sprinting. Eccentric overload training produced the most significant benefits in sprint and jump performance. Strength training, particularly eccentric training, significantly improves both the hamstring muscle strength and the physical performance in male football players aged 15 years and older, highlighting its importance for injury prevention and sport performance enhancement. However, additional research is needed to evaluate whether similar benefits can be observed in female players and younger age groups.