Biceps femoris activation during hamstring strength exercises: a systematic review

Background: The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the biceps femoris long head activation across cross-sectional hamstring strength exercise studies. Methods: A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databas...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Llurda-Almuzara, Luis, Labata-Lezaun, Noé, López de Celis, Carlos, Aiguadé Aiguadé, Ramón, Romaní-Sánchez, Sergi, Rodríguez-Sanz, Jacobo, Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César, Pérez Bellmunt, Albert
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12328/2740
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12328/2740
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168733
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Músculs isquiotibials
Lesió muscular
Bíceps femoral
Activitat muscular
Electromiografia
Tendón de la corva
Lesión muscular
Actividad muscular
Electromiografía
Hamstring
Muscle injury
Biceps femoris
Muscle activity
Electromyography
61
Description
Summary:Background: The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the biceps femoris long head activation across cross-sectional hamstring strength exercise studies. Methods: A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databases found a total of 3643 studies. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 29 studies were finally included in this systematic review. A total of 507 participants and 114 different exercises were analyzed. Exercises were evaluated individually and grouped into several categories: Nordics, isokinetic exercises, lunges, squats, deadlifts, good mornings, hip thrusts, bridges, leg curls, swings, hip and back extensions, and others. Results: Results showed the isokinetic and Nordic exercises as the categories with highest biceps femoris activation (>60% of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). Nordic hamstring exercise ankle dorsiflexion was the exercise that achieved the highest biceps femoris long head activation (128.1% of its Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction). Conclusions: The results from this systematic review suggest that isokinetic and Nordic exercises seem to be the best option to activate biceps femoris long head. Future studies evaluating the implementation of these exercises in prevention programs are needed.