The effects of Nordic hamstring exercise on pain and performance in elite rowers with low back pain

Year 2017, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 22 - 25, 30.06.2017

Sofien Kasmi Amri Hammami , Noureddine Gharbi Riadh Khlifa

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the
effects of the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) on pain threshold, flexibility
and 2000m rowing performance in elite rowers with lower back pain (LBP). Ten
elite rowers (age 17.6 ± 2.12 years) with LBP participated in this study.
Participants completed 6-weeks of NHE in addition to their usual training
program. Pre- and post-training tests included measures of pain threshold of
the lower back, flexibility (sit and reach test) and 2000 m rowing performance.
The results demonstrated that an organized HNE caused a significant decrease in
pain threshold from 4.8±2 to 3±1.4 (P = 0.03, ES = 0.9) and a non-significant
but moderate improvement in rowing performance from 6.9±0.7 min to 6.3±0.9 min
(P = 0.1, ES = 0.8). The sit and reach test revealed a non-significant change
from 14.9±8.2 cm to 15.2±6.5 cm (P = 0.9, ES = 0.04). We conclude that the NHE
may represent an effective method for reducing pain in elite rowers with moderate
improvement in rowing performance.

Keywords

Eccentric training, strength, injury

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