Medial and Lateral Hamstrings Response and Force Production at Varying Degrees of Knee Flexion and Tibial Rotation in Healthy Individuals

Beyer, Emily B.; Lunden, Jason B.; Giveans, M. Russell

doi:10.26603/ijspt20190376

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Meanwhile, force and torque were significantly reduced in IR compared with those in both NR and ER, with no significant difference between NR and ER. This was consistent with a previous study, which showed a significant decrease in peak force output (21). Although EMG activity and force seem inconsistent with each other in this study, EMG activity was also partially diminished in IR.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…MH versus LH activation ratio was significantly lesser in ER than IR, but there was no difference in the ratio in men and women when analyzed separately. A recent study by Beyer also showed a decrease in MH activity in IR and ER, and no significant difference in LH at 60° knee flexion (21). In the present study, in which maximal isometric contraction was applied, the EMG activities of all three muscles were significantly diminished in ER and IR compared with those in NR.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

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Appropriateness of Tibial Rotation for Isolation of the Medial and Lateral Hamstrings

Lim

2020

Ann Appl Sport Sci

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Background. It is unclear whether the clinical use of tibial rotation to measure the strength of the medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings in isolation is based on sound scientific evidence or is simply based on anatomical features. Objectives. To verify the appropriateness of tibial rotation for isolation of the medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings, the participants performed neutral rotation (NR), external rotation (ER), and internal rotation (IR). Methods. Forty-six young and healthy adults (age 21.9 ± 2.2 years, height 167.9 ± 8.6 cm, the weight of 63.8 ± 13.9 kg) participated in the study. The electromyography (EMG) activity and knee flexion torque were measured and compared among different postures; NR, ER, and IR. Results. The Max of the EMG activity of the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles was significantly reduced in ER and IR compared with that in NR. There were no significant differences in muscle activity between ER and IR. Knee flexion force and torque were significantly reduced in IR compared with those in NR and ER. EMG activity was significantly diminished during tibial rotation compared with that in NR. Conclusion. Contrary to the general assumption, IR and ER had a limited influence on the isolation of medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings; thus, they may be unnecessary for medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings normalization. The uniform training of the hamstring muscles in NR for MVIC may be more appropriate than isolating the muscles in ER and IR.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Appropriateness of Tibial Rotation for Isolation of the Medial and Lateral Hamstrings

Lim

2020

Ann Appl Sport Sci

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“…The biceps femoris EMG amplitude is likely reduced during the leg press to allow for simultaneous knee-and hip extension, as previously postulated for the semimembranosus and semimembranosus (Fujiwara and Basmajian, 1975;Yamashita, 1988). Moreover, higher biceps femoris activation has been observed in near full knee extension compared to smaller knee angles during isometric knee flexion (Beyer et al, 2019). While a 170° knee joint angle was only reached near the top position during the leg press, the knee was in a constant 170° angle throughout the movement during the kickback, allowing for a longer duration in the position allowing for the highest EMG amplitude.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men

Stien¹,

Sæterbakken²,

Andersen³

2021

jsportscimed

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Resistance-training exercises can be classified as either single- or multi-joint exercises and differences in surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude between the two training methods may identify which muscles can benefit from either training modality. This study aimed to compare the surface EMG amplitude of five hip- and knee extensors during one multi-joint (leg press) and two single-joint exercises (knee extension and kickback). Fifteen resistance-trained men completed one familiarization session to determine their unilateral six repetitions maximum (6RM) in the three exercises. During the following experimental session, EMG amplitudes of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, rectus femoris, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris of the left leg were measured while performing three repetitions on their respective 6RM loads. The multi-joint exercise leg press produced higher EMG amplitude of the vastus lateralis (ES = 0.92, p = 0.003) than the single-joint exercise knee extension, whereas the rectus femoris demonstrated higher EMG amplitude during the knee extension (ES = 0.93, p = 0.005). The biceps femoris EMG amplitude was higher during the single-joint exercise kickback compared to the leg press (ES = 2.27, p < 0.001), while no significant differences in gluteus maximus (ES = 0.08, p = 0.898) or vastus medialis (ES = 0.056, p = 0.025 were observed between exercises. The difference in EMG amplitude between single- and multi-joint exercises appears to vary depending on the specific exercises and the muscle groups tested. Leg press is a viable and time-efficient option for targeting several hip- and knee extensors during resistance training of the lower limbs, but the single-joint exercises may be preferable for targeting the rectus femoris and biceps femoris.

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“…Information regarding the effects of knee joint angle on hamstrings activity during knee flexion contractions varies between studies [ 79 , 127 , 128 , 149 – 151 , 158 ] (Table 3 ). In particular, BFlh EMG amplitude, measured using bipolar surface or intramuscular electrodes approximately in the middle of the muscle belly, has been reported to increase [ 79 , 128 , 132 , 137 , 150 , 151 , 154 ], decrease [ 149 , 156 , 158 , 161 ], increase and then decrease [ 130 , 157 , 159 ] or remain unaltered [ 127 , 152 , 155 ] as the knee approaches full extension (longer muscle length). Similarly, ST EMG amplitude has been reported to increase [ 137 , 155 ], decrease [ 128 , 132 , 149 ], increase and then decrease [ 165 ], or remain unaltered [ 79 , 127 , 151 , 154 ] as the knee extends, and SM EMG signal amplitude was found to increase [ 79 , 132 , 155 ], decrease [ 128 , 149 ], increase and then decrease [ 157 ], or remain unaltered [ 127 , 151 , 158 ] from flexion to full extension.…”

Section: Main Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hamstrings force-length relationships and their implications for angle-specific joint torques: a narrative review

Kellis

Blazevich

2022

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Temporal biomechanical and physiological responses to physical activity vary between individual hamstrings components as well as between exercises, suggesting that hamstring muscles operate differently, and over different lengths, between tasks. Nevertheless, the force-length properties of these muscles have not been thoroughly investigated. The present review examines the factors influencing the hamstrings’ force-length properties and relates them to in vivo function. A search in four databases was performed for studies that examined relations between muscle length and force, torque, activation, or moment arm of hamstring muscles. Evidence was collated in relation to force-length relationships at a sarcomere/fiber level and then moment arm-length, activation-length, and torque-joint angle relations. Five forward simulation models were also used to predict force-length and torque-length relations of hamstring muscles. The results show that, due to architectural differences alone, semitendinosus (ST) produces less peak force and has a flatter active (contractile) fiber force-length relation than both biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semimembranosus (SM), however BFlh and SM contribute greater forces through much of the hip and knee joint ranges of motion. The hamstrings’ maximum moment arms are greater at the hip than knee, so the muscles tend to act more as force producers at the hip but generate greater joint rotation and angular velocity at the knee for a given muscle shortening length and speed. However, SM moment arm is longer than SM and BFlh, partially alleviating its reduced force capacity but also reducing its otherwise substantial excursion potential. The current evidence, bound by the limitations of electromyography techniques, suggests that joint angle-dependent activation variations have minimal impact on force-length or torque-angle relations. During daily activities such as walking or sitting down, the hamstrings appear to operate on the ascending limbs of their force-length relations while knee flexion exercises performed with hip angles 45–90° promote more optimal force generation. Exercises requiring hip flexion at 45–120° and knee extension 45–0° (e.g. sprint running) may therefore evoke greater muscle forces and, speculatively, provide a more optimum adaptive stimulus. Finally, increases in resistance to stretch during hip flexion beyond 45° result mainly from SM and BFlh muscles.

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Medial and Lateral Hamstrings Response and Force Production at Varying Degrees of Knee Flexion and Tibial Rotation in Healthy Individuals

Cited by 10 publications

References 29 publications

Appropriateness of Tibial Rotation for Isolation of the Medial and Lateral Hamstrings

Appropriateness of Tibial Rotation for Isolation of the Medial and Lateral Hamstrings

Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men

Hamstrings force-length relationships and their implications for angle-specific joint torques: a narrative review

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