Comparison of Effect of Hip-dominant vs Knee-dominant Hamstring Strengthening Exercises on the Muscle Strength, Range of Movement, and Functional Performance

Jintaek Kim, Soyoung Kim, Suhnyeop Kim, Hyun Kim
Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 4-week exercise program on the hamstring strength, range of motion of the knee joint, and functional ability of the lower extremities by dividing youth soccer players into two groups: hip-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise and knee-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise.

Methods:

This study is a randomized intervention trial. The sample (n=31) was randomly divided into two groups: HDE (n=17) and KDE (n=14), with soccer players in HDE performing hip joint-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises and those in KDE performing knee joint-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises. Each intervention was conducted three times per week for four weeks. The outcome measures included the hamstring strength test (isometric strength test, eccentric strength test), knee joint range of motion (90/90 active knee extension; AKE) test, lower limb function test Y-balance test and Agility T-test.


Results:

Following the intervention, both groups showed significant improvement in isometric and eccentric hamstring strength on both dominant and non-dominant sides (p.05).  The AKE test showed significant improvement in the dominant leg (p.05) and non-dominant leg only in KDE. The agility test significantly improved in HDE (p.05). There was a slight improvement in the Y-balance test score; however, the difference was not statistically significant. There were no differences between the two groups in the values before, and after the intervention for all items.


Conclusion(s):

In training to prevent hamstring injuries in youth soccer players, hip-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises were similar to knee-dominant hamstring strengthening exercises in improving hamstring strength and range of motion of the knee joint.

Implications:

The hip-dominant and knee-dominant hamstring strengthening exercise should be coordinated and used based on the environment during hamstring injury prevention training. Therefore, the results of this study can provide meaningful data for selecting target exercises to prevent hamstring strain injuries and rehabilitation programs.

Funding acknowledgements:
The work was not funded.
Keywords:
Hip-dominant
Knee-dominant
Strengthening exercises
Primary topic:
Sport and sports injuries
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Third topic:
Musculoskeletal
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Daejeon University Institutional Review Board
Provide the ethics approval number:
1040647-202312-HR-006-03
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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