Hamstring Injuries and Nordic Hamstring Curls

This post is intended for patients, here is a similar version for therapists with big words added.

Researchers have found that after the pain of a hamstring injury (HSI) is gone that does not mean all is ok:

• strength is slow to return
• muscle fascicles ( a bunch of fibers) are shortened
• reinjury rates are very high

My approach-is to combine soft tissue work and exercises (see below)

Eccentric exercise- There is strong evidence that eccentric exercises can prevent hamstring re-injury.  They are called Nordic Curls:

ART research on hamstring flexibility

Kage-  Immediate effect of ART vs Mulligan Bent Leg Raise (MBLR) in subjects with hamstring tightness: RCT 2013

“A single session of ART is better as compared to MBLR technique to improve hamstring flexibility and range of motion.”

Shah, S + Kage, V.-  Comparative Effectiveness of ART and Rolfing on hamstring tightness in normal subjects. RCT  

 “ART showed better improvement as compared to Rolfing in terms of Popliteal angle.”

George, JW-  The effects of ART on hamstring flexibility  2006

“This study demonstrated that a single ART treatment increased hamstring flexibility in a group of healthy, active male participants.“

You may also like:

High Hamstring Strain: Best Low Compression Exercises

Best Glute Medius Exercises for Runners

Research Based Hamstring Therapy – FIT Institute

The New Age of Golf Training is Creating Stronger and More Athletic Golfers Than Ever Before – STACK

Performance Therapy: Greg Rutherford’s Story – Athletics Weekly

The ART of Active Release Techniques – Telegraph

How is ART different from Sports Massage –  220 Triathlon

Transform Performance – Vigour Magazine

Golf Performance Therapy – Titleist Performance Institute

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