Fatigued eccentric hamstring strength training improves muscle fatigability during simulated soccer match-play

![CDATA[Reduced eccentric hamstring strength at the ends of each half of soccer match-play has been associated with increased susceptibility to hamstring strains.1 However, training to improve eccentric hamstring strength in a resting state has not been proven to reduce match-play injury risk.2 The aim of this study was to examine the effects of timing of application for eccentric hamstring strengthening exercises during training on hamstring muscle fatigability throughout simulated soccer match-play. At the beginning and end of an 8-week intervention, 16 semiprofessional, male, soccer players (age 21±3 years; height 185±9 cm; body mass 81.6±6.7 kg) completed the SAFT90; a multidirectional 90 min exercise protocol representative of soccer match-play. Subjects performed three maximal dominant limb isokinetic contractions at 120°/s for concentric (conQ) and eccentric knee extension (eccH) prior to SAFT90 (t0), at half-time (t45) and immediately postexercise (t105). Following baseline testing, subjects were divided into two groups; either performing Nordic hamstring lowers during the cool-down (CD; n = 8) or warm-up (WU; n = 8) of bi-weekly training sessions. There were significant interaction effects for eccH peak torque (PT) (p<0.05) and the functional eccH:conQ ratio (p<0.05). The WU group displayed a significant increase postintervention in eccH PT and the eccH:conQ ratio compared with the CD group at t0 (p<0.05). Conversely, the CD group displayed a significant increase in both eccH PT and the eccH:conQ ratio postintervention at t45 (p<0.05) and at t105 (p<0.05). Findings indicate that the training intervention had a time-dependent beneficial effect on eccentric hamstring strength and muscular imbalance. This fatigued strength training strategy could reduce the negative effects of fatigue associated with increased risk of hamstring injury during soccer match-play.]]