CONTEXT: The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is known to reduce hamstrings injury risk in athletes. To optimize the NHE, it is important to understand how acute resistance-training variables influence its performance.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of different interset rest intervals (ISRIs) on force indices during performance of the NHE.
DESIGN: Crossover study.
SETTING: Laboratory.
PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Ten well-trained, young, male, team-sport athletes (age = 20.7 ± 2.3 years, height = 179.4 ± 5.5 cm, mass = 83.9 ± 12.4 kg).
INTERVENTION(S): Participants performed 2 sets of 6 repetitions of the NHE with either a 1- or 3-minute ISRI. All sets were performed using the NordBord.
MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE(S): Peak force (newtons), average force (newtons), percentage maintenance, and percentage decline were recorded for both the dominant and nondominant limbs, and interlimb force asymmetries (percentages) were calculated.
RESULTS: No interactions or main effects (P > .05) were present between conditions or sets for any variables. However, individual repetitions showed reductions (P< .05; effect size range = 0.58-1.28) in peak force from repetition 4 onward.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a 1-minute ISRI was sufficient to maintain force-production qualities and interlimb asymmetries between sets during the NHE in well-trained athletes. Nonetheless, practitioners should be aware of the potentially large decrements in peak force production that may occur within the set.
