BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hamstring injuries are common in sports with sprinting demands, kicking, and sudden accelerations. Rehabilitation programs aimed at the prevention of future hamstring injuries have been recommended. This study examined if Nordic hamstring (NH) exercises decreased injury rates, increased sprinting speed, and increased hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength among semi-professional soccer players. METHODS: A convenience sample of level 3 and 4 male soccer players from Norway (ages 18 to 39) participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into either a control group (usual warm-up exercises) or a NH group (usual warm-up exercises plus NH exercises). Injury data was collected on 119 players for 10 months. Twenty-seven participants were evaluated twice over the same period on sprint speed, eccentric and isometric hamstring strength, and concentric hamstring and quadriceps strength. Independent t-tests compared changes in strength and speed between the control and NH groups. Paired t-tests analysed within group changes. Statistical significance was set at p <= 0.05. FINDINGS: There was a significant difference in the number of injuries between the control (6 injuries) and the NH (zero injuries) groups. No significant changes in strength or sprint speed were found between the groups. The NH group experienced a statistically significant decrease in speed, during the first 10 m of sprint testing. In addition, both groups had a significant decline in the eccentric total work of the hamstrings. CLINCIAL RELEVANCE: Incorporation of NH exercise protocol into regular practice sessions may be effective in reducing the number of hamstring injuries in soccer players.

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