Relationship Between Eccentric Hamstring Strength and Passive Muscle Stiffness

NCT05000567 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: B6702020000684
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Ninety male subject will be divided into three group: a younger group (18-22y), an older group (30-40y) and a control group (18-40y). The study comprises 3 phases. PHASE 1: baseline strength and stiffness measurements of the hamstring muscles, PHASE 2: 12 week Nordic Hamstring strength training program (not for the control group) and PHASE 3: final strength and stiffness measurements. The aim of this study is twofold, namely to investigate (1) whether there is a difference in baseline stiffness of the hamstring muscle complex between different age categories and (2) the evolution of hamstring muscle stiffness during an eccentric strength training program within the different age groups. These two research questions could ultimately lead to a possible answer on the question if the higher probability of HSI (=hamstring strain injury) in the older age category with the lowest levels of eccentric hamstring strength could be due to an age-related difference in hamstring stiffness.

Conditions

Hamstring Injury

Keywords

Hamstrings; Stiffness; Strength; Shear wave elastography

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in hamstring muscle stiffness, measured by a Shear Wave elastography device.

  Via Shear Wave Elastography, the stiffness of the hamstring muscles (long head of the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle and semimembranosus muscle) will be assessed. A shear wave elastography device (Aixplorer, version Mach 30, Supersonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) coupled with a linear transducer array (SL 18-5, 5-18 MHz. Super Linear, Vermon, Tours, France) will be used, in SWE mode (musculoskeletal preset, penetrate mode, smoothing level 5, persistence off, scale 0-100 kPa), to measure the shear modulus of the hamstrings (long head of the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinosus muscle and the semimembranosus muscle). The muscle stiffness will be depict by the passive shear modulus expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Measurement: Hamstring muscle stiffness Measurement tool: Shear wave elastography Unit of measure: Shear modulus (kPa)

  At baseline and after 12 weeks.

• Change in eccentric strength (Peak Torque) of the hamstring muscle measured by a BIODEX 4 isokinetic device.

  Via the BIODEX 4 isokinetic device (Biodex Medical Systems, New York, USA), the eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles will be assessed and expressed in Peak Torque (Nm/kg). The eccentric strength will be measured at two angular velocities: 30°/s and 120°/s. Measurement: Eccentric muscle strength of the hamstring muscles Measurement tool: BIODEX isokinetic device Unit of measure: Peak Torque (Nm/kg) at 30°/s and at 120°/s.

  At baseline and after 12 weeks.

• Change in eccentric strength (Angle of peak torque) of the hamstring muscle, measured by a BIODEX 4 isokinetic device.

  Via the BIODEX 4 isokinetic device (Biodex Medical Systems, New York, USA), the eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles will be assessed and expressed in Angle of Peak Torque (°). The eccentric strength will be measured at two angular velocities: 30°/s and 120°/s. Measurement: Eccentric muscle strength of the hamstring muscles Measurement tool: BIODEX isokinetic device Unit of measure: Angle of Peak Torque (°) at 30°/s and at 120°/s.

  At baseline and after 12 weeks.

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention.

Experimental Older group

EXPERIMENTAL

12 week strength training program: Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Other: 12 week nordic hamstring exercise program

Experimental Younger group

EXPERIMENTAL

12 week strength training program: Nordic Hamstring Exercise

Other: 12 week nordic hamstring exercise program

Interventions

12 week nordic hamstring exercise program OTHER

12 weeks progressive eccentric strength training program targetting the hamstring muscles.

Experimental Older group; Experimental Younger group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Minimum 1h sport/week and Maximum 3 sport sessions a week
• Male
• Injury-free at the moment of testing.

You may not qualify if:

• History of injuries or surgery lower extremity
• History of hamstring injuries

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ghent University

Ghent, 9000, Belgium

Location

Study Officials

• Erik Witvrouw

  Departement of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 5, 2020
• First Posted: August 11, 2021
• Study Start: September 24, 2020
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2022
• Study Completion: September 1, 2022
• Last Updated: December 9, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BE (1)