The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study
# Background and Purpose Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is a particularly significant problem in track and field events. In recent years, it has been recommended that the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) be included as part of an HSI prevention program, along with warm-up. However, NHE has low compli...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North American Sports Medicine Institute
2025-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.136803 |
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| author | Ryo Otani Hideo Nishikawa Shigeaki Matsunaga Yosuke Hiroshige Masatoshi Nakamura |
| author_facet | Ryo Otani Hideo Nishikawa Shigeaki Matsunaga Yosuke Hiroshige Masatoshi Nakamura |
| author_sort | Ryo Otani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background and Purpose
Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is a particularly significant problem in track and field events. In recent years, it has been recommended that the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) be included as part of an HSI prevention program, along with warm-up. However, NHE has low compliance because of various disadvantages. Therefore, we focused on Single-leg Romanian Deadlift (SLRDL) as an alternative to NHE. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the SLRDL on the risk of HSI.
# Study Design
Cohort study
# Methods
Male and female high school track athletes were recruited to participate across control and intervention seasons. The intervention added the SLRDL (3 sets x 3 reps) to the standard warm-up. An athletic trainer recorded HSI based on established criteria and athlete-hours. HSI incidence per 1000 athlete-hours and severity (by return-to-training time) were compared between seasons. Athletes filled out a compliance questionnaire after the intervention season. Risk ratios (RR) were examined for each severity of HSI between the control season and the intervention season.
# Results
Seventy-seven athletes from one high school track and field team participated. The risk of mild to moderate HSI was reduced between the control and intervention seasons (RR = 0.34, 95% confidence interval \[CI]: 0.12–0.94) but no there was no significant effect on severe cases (RR = 2.84, 95% CI: 0.30–27.28). Compliance with SLRDL was 98.67%, indicating its potential as an easily implemented prevention program.
# Conclusions
Despite the effect of the SLRDL in reducing the risk of mild to moderate NHE, the lower intensity of the SLRDL compared with NHE might have limited its effectiveness in reducing the risk of severe HSI. Further research is recommended to optimize HSI prevention programs, considering the use of the SLRDL as an introductory measure rather than a complete alternative to the NHE.
# Level of Evidence
3 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7aa5c19dae1e444185bbbd9a262f123b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-7aa5c19dae1e444185bbbd9a262f123b2025-08-20T02:55:56ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962025-05-0120510.26603/001c.136803The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort StudyRyo OtaniHideo NishikawaShigeaki MatsunagaYosuke HiroshigeMasatoshi Nakamura# Background and Purpose Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is a particularly significant problem in track and field events. In recent years, it has been recommended that the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) be included as part of an HSI prevention program, along with warm-up. However, NHE has low compliance because of various disadvantages. Therefore, we focused on Single-leg Romanian Deadlift (SLRDL) as an alternative to NHE. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the SLRDL on the risk of HSI. # Study Design Cohort study # Methods Male and female high school track athletes were recruited to participate across control and intervention seasons. The intervention added the SLRDL (3 sets x 3 reps) to the standard warm-up. An athletic trainer recorded HSI based on established criteria and athlete-hours. HSI incidence per 1000 athlete-hours and severity (by return-to-training time) were compared between seasons. Athletes filled out a compliance questionnaire after the intervention season. Risk ratios (RR) were examined for each severity of HSI between the control season and the intervention season. # Results Seventy-seven athletes from one high school track and field team participated. The risk of mild to moderate HSI was reduced between the control and intervention seasons (RR = 0.34, 95% confidence interval \[CI]: 0.12–0.94) but no there was no significant effect on severe cases (RR = 2.84, 95% CI: 0.30–27.28). Compliance with SLRDL was 98.67%, indicating its potential as an easily implemented prevention program. # Conclusions Despite the effect of the SLRDL in reducing the risk of mild to moderate NHE, the lower intensity of the SLRDL compared with NHE might have limited its effectiveness in reducing the risk of severe HSI. Further research is recommended to optimize HSI prevention programs, considering the use of the SLRDL as an introductory measure rather than a complete alternative to the NHE. # Level of Evidence 3https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.136803 |
| spellingShingle | Ryo Otani Hideo Nishikawa Shigeaki Matsunaga Yosuke Hiroshige Masatoshi Nakamura The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study |
| title_full | The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study |
| title_short | The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study |
| title_sort | effect of single leg romanian deadlift on the risk of hamstring strain injuries in track and field athletes a cohort study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.136803 |
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