News
2020/10/01 Sumiaki Maeo is a Senior Researcher in Research Organization of Science and Technology, and his research manuscript has been accepted and published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
The hamstrings are lengthened more in a seated (hip-flexed) than prone (hip-extended) position, due to its bi-articular nature crossing the knee and hip joints. This study demonstrated that hamstrings muscle size was 1.5-fold more effectively increased by seated than prone leg curl training, suggesting that training at long muscle lengths promotes muscle hypertrophy, while both were similarly effective in reducing susceptibility to muscle damage. The results of this study will be useful in developing training programs which aim to improve sports performance, reduce the risk of strain injuries, and counteract age-related sarcopenia.
Sumiaki Maeo, Huang Meng, Wu Yuhang, Hikaru Sakurai, Yuki Kusagawa, Takashi Sugiyama, Hiroaki Kanehisa, Tadao Isaka (2020). Greater hamstrings muscle hypertrophy but similar damage protection after training at long vs short muscle lengths. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (Published Ahead of Print) doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002523
Journal website:
