Comparison Between Eccentric Hamstring Training and Sprint-Specific Training

Comparison Between Eccentric Hamstring Strength Training and Sprint-Specific Training on Muscle Hypertrophy, Strength, Power, and Sprint Performance in Club Sport Collegiate Athletes

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of an intensity-, volume-, and time under tension-matched eccentric hamstring exercise intervention with the Romanian deadlift (RDL) and the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) to a sprint-specific training program on hamstring muscle architecture, volume, sprint performance, strength, and power.

Participants will be assigned to complete one of the 3 hamstring interventions for 10 weeks.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Exercise Training; Running; Healthy Adult; Sport; Ultrasound Imaging; Athlete
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: RDL; Other: NHE; Other: Sprint testing

Detailed Description

Prior to the intervention, participants will undergo baseline testing which will include a) ultrasound imaging of the hamstrings muscles for measures of biceps femoris long head fascicle length, pennation angle, muscle thickness, anatomical cross-sectional area, and muscle volume b) passive and active ranges of motion, c) 3 repetition maximum (3RM) RDL strength, d) peak NHE force, e) countermovement jump height, f) broad jump distance, g) Pro Agility change of direction, and h) a 60 m sprint with sprint kinematics assessed via inertial measurement units.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the RDL, NHE, or sprint training group. After randomization, each participant will undergo the intervention program based upon their group allocation.

Performance testing and imaging will be repeated mid-intervention, following the intervention, and after 2 weeks of deloading.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Scott K Crawford, PhD; Phone Number: 608) 265-1308; Email: skcrawford2@wisc.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Wisconsin
    • Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53705
      • University of Wisconsin - Madison
      • Contact: Scott K Crawford, PhD; Phone Number: 608-265-1308; Email: skcrawford2@wisc.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-25 years
• Actively participating in a club team
• >6 months experience with resistance training
• Minimum of 1 year experience at the high school level in organized team sport
• No history of hamstring injury within the last 6 months
• No history of major lower extremity surgery (including back)
• No acute musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremity
• Not currently pregnant

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to refrain from resistance training outside the study
• Unable to make at least 80% of the training sessions
• Hamstring injury in the last 6 months
• History of major lower extremity surgery (including back)
• Acute musculoskeletal injury to the lower extremity
• Currently pregnant

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Romanian dead lift (RDL) group; The training intervention groups will undergo the same program with the only difference being the interventional hamstring exercise. The program will consist of a 2-week familiarization period followed by 8 weeks of progressive training. The RDL arm will perform RDL.	Other: RDL; The RDL will be performed with a 6 second eccentric component with the athlete returning to the start position with a maximal concentric hip extension.
Experimental: Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) group; The training intervention groups will undergo the same program with the only difference being the interventional hamstring exercise. The program will consist of a 2-week familiarization period followed by 8 weeks of progressive training. The NHE arm will performed NHE	Other: NHE; The NHE will be performed with a 6 second eccentric component.
Experimental: Sprint group; The training intervention groups will undergo the same program with the only difference being the interventional hamstring exercise. The program will consist of a 2-week familiarization period followed by 8 weeks of progressive training. The sprint training program will be performed twice per week with the first day of training focused on shorter distances to focus on acceleration and the second training day focused on maximal velocity. The relative efforts and distances for each training day will mimic a similar prescription to that of the resistance training program.	Other: Sprint testing; The sprint training program will be performed twice per week with the first day of training focused on shorter distances to focus on acceleration and the second training day focused on maximal velocity. The relative efforts and distances for each training day will mimic a similar prescription to that of the resistance training program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in fascicle length (FL)	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA)	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in muscle volume	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in pennation angle (PA)	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in eccentric strength	Eccentric hamstring strength of each limb will be assessed during the hamstring exercise.	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in inertial measurement units (IMU)-based sprinting biomechanics	Sprinting biomechanics will be assessed using seven IMUs (sacrum, both thighs, both shanks, both feet). Lower extremity joint motions referenced to upright stance will be calculated throughout an on-field sprint and other football drills.	Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in countermovement jump (CMJ) performance		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in standing broad jump (SBJ) performance		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in change of direction (CoD) performance		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in range of motion (ROM) performance		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in hip flexion		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)
Change in anterior pelvic tilt		Baseline to Mid-intervention (6 weeks), Post-intervention (10 weeks), and Post 2 week de-training (12 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Collaborators: National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: strength; sprint; range of motion; hypertrophy; countermovement jump; agility; hamstring; fascicle length
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hypertrophy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026-0704; UWMSN | SOE | Kinesiology Oper (Other Identifier: UW- Madison); Protocol Version 5/5/26 (Other Identifier: UW- Madison)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No