Abstract
Background: Vertical jumping is one of the most popular ways of assessing athleticism and power output of the lower body in both professional and recreational sport settings. Therefore, having access to an appropriate warmup protocol for enhancing this skill and the power output associated with it is essential for athletes whose success depends on the ability to perform it. Current literature demonstrates similar posterior kinetic chain muscle engagement during the vertical squat jump and during an exercise called the Nordic Hamstring Curl. The literature additionally demonstrates significant effects on strength and athleticism when the exercise is used in long-term training programs. However, no research has been conducted on the potential acute effects on athletic performance this exercise may yield when used as a warmup protocol. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a warmup protocol involving the Nordic Hamstring Curl on flight time and peak EMG activity of the bilateral biceps femoris, semitendinosus, erector spinae, and gluteus maximus muscles during the vertical squat jump.
Participants: The study population will consist of active college age individuals.
Methods: Surface EMG sensors will be placed along the above bilateral posterior kinetic chain muscles. Participants perform a short warmup involving 10 minutes on the stationary bike, 5 vertical squat jumps with a 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, dynamic stretching, and 3 sets of 5 repetitions of the partner Nordic Hamstring Curl to maximal effort with 3 minutes of rest in between the sets for the intervention. The control group does not perform the Nordic Hamstring Curl. Following the assigned warmup protocol, subjects perform a series of 5 vertical squat jumps on a force plate, and the mean flight time and peak EMG activity are recorded for the 5 jumps. The study follows a repeated measures randomized control design, and each subject performs the intervention and control protocols one week apart. A repeated measures MANOVA will be used to compare the acute effects of the Nordic Hamstring Curl on flight time and peak EMG activity during the vertical jump.
Results and Conclusion: Data is currently being collected for this project. It is expected that the Nordic Hamstring Curl intervention warmup will significantly increase peak posterior kinetic chain muscle activity and flight time in the vertical squat jump trials when compared to the control.
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Musculoskeletal System Commons, Physical Therapy Commons, Sports Sciences Commons
ES-03 The Effects of a Warmup Protocol Involving the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Vertical Squat Jump Performance and Peak Muscular Activation
Background: Vertical jumping is one of the most popular ways of assessing athleticism and power output of the lower body in both professional and recreational sport settings. Therefore, having access to an appropriate warmup protocol for enhancing this skill and the power output associated with it is essential for athletes whose success depends on the ability to perform it. Current literature demonstrates similar posterior kinetic chain muscle engagement during the vertical squat jump and during an exercise called the Nordic Hamstring Curl. The literature additionally demonstrates significant effects on strength and athleticism when the exercise is used in long-term training programs. However, no research has been conducted on the potential acute effects on athletic performance this exercise may yield when used as a warmup protocol. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a warmup protocol involving the Nordic Hamstring Curl on flight time and peak EMG activity of the bilateral biceps femoris, semitendinosus, erector spinae, and gluteus maximus muscles during the vertical squat jump.
Participants: The study population will consist of active college age individuals.
Methods: Surface EMG sensors will be placed along the above bilateral posterior kinetic chain muscles. Participants perform a short warmup involving 10 minutes on the stationary bike, 5 vertical squat jumps with a 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, dynamic stretching, and 3 sets of 5 repetitions of the partner Nordic Hamstring Curl to maximal effort with 3 minutes of rest in between the sets for the intervention. The control group does not perform the Nordic Hamstring Curl. Following the assigned warmup protocol, subjects perform a series of 5 vertical squat jumps on a force plate, and the mean flight time and peak EMG activity are recorded for the 5 jumps. The study follows a repeated measures randomized control design, and each subject performs the intervention and control protocols one week apart. A repeated measures MANOVA will be used to compare the acute effects of the Nordic Hamstring Curl on flight time and peak EMG activity during the vertical jump.
Results and Conclusion: Data is currently being collected for this project. It is expected that the Nordic Hamstring Curl intervention warmup will significantly increase peak posterior kinetic chain muscle activity and flight time in the vertical squat jump trials when compared to the control.