

As each hamstrings strain injury leads to 17 days of lost time and the recurrence rate is high (23%), finding effective preventative training methods is valuable. Hamstrings strain injuries are common in many team sports, including rugby, with a prevalence of around 0.27 and 5.6 hamstrings strain injuries per 1000 h of exposure in training and matches, respectively. 1 I first discovered this study through the newsletter MASS, for which we are an affiliate. In this article, I’ll briefly review a new study on hamstrings training, performed on elite Brazilian rugby players. Which exercise is the best for preventing hamstrings strain injuries? And which is the best for growing your hamstrings muscle size?
NORDIC HAMSTRING CURL FULL
Even if you’ve burnt yourself out with the full curls, you’ll still have juice in the tank for a few straight negatives to tack on to the end. As an option, on your last set, finish the reps of Nordic curls off by adding natural glute-hamstring raises to the end of your set. Make it your goal to descend to 12 inches above ground level, and use your hamstrings to change direction and return to the top position. Keep your hands behind your back this time so that you’re not as top-heavy in your loading (with your arms overhead or by your chest). Step 3: The Real Deal - Nordic Hamstring CurlĪt this point, you know the drill. Return to the start position and repeat for sets of six to eight reps, focusing again on form and tempo. Maintain good posture, and pull with your hamstrings before you reach the ground. As you descend, the band will increase its tension and assist you more the closer you move toward the ground. Place the band above and behind your head so you can hold it near shoulder height (or just above your head). Setting up a resistance band overhead can create a perfect hack for the Nordic curl if you’re not yet strong enough to do them with just your bodyweight. Aim for a five-second descent on each rep, and focus on sets of only six to eight reps, with quality and attention to tempo in mind. Next, fully assist yourself back to the top position by pushing up off the ground with your hands and repeat.


Keep your hands up, ready to assume a push-up position the entire time, and gently make them hit the floor first. Press hard with your heels into the bar to engage your hamstrings, and make your descent to the floor as slow as it can possibly be. Next, kneel tall, engage your glutes and slowly tip forward. At this point, your heels should be in contact with the bar that blocks your feet be sure it’s not your Achilles tendon because that will cause plenty of aggravation, and it’s not safe. It helps to put thick pads or double mats under your knees for comfort. If you can only point your toes like you’re a ballerina, it’ll lead to plenty of calf involvement for the lift. Step 1: Natural Glute-Hamstring Raiseįind a (very heavy!) machine that you can secure your feet under, and make sure you’re able to keep your ankles in a neutral or dorsiflexed position.

With all this said, it’s still tough, so the best thing to do is focus on steps leading up to the real thing. The best part is, there’s no equipment needed, other than a place to secure your feet under. This makes it much more reliant on eccentric strength and makes it a movement worth its weight in gold for hamstring strength and posterior-chain bolstering. The Nordic curl scares most people who see it done for the first time, but the truth is, it’s a fantastic hamstring exercise that beats prone leg curls for the fact that it keeps your feet stationary while your body pivots around the knee joint.
