| CTRI Number |
CTRI/2025/11/097150 [Registered on: 11/11/2025] Trial Registered Prospectively |
| Last Modified On: |
10/11/2025 |
| Post Graduate Thesis |
Yes |
| Type of Trial |
Interventional |
|
Type of Study
|
Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) |
| Study Design |
Randomized, Parallel Group Trial |
|
Public Title of Study
|
Choosing the Best Eccentric Exercises for Hamstring Recovery in Football players: Stretched Versus Short Muscle Positions |
|
Scientific Title of Study
|
Hamstring Injury Rehabilitation Using Long Vs Short Muscle Length Eccentric Exercises on Clinical and Functional Outcome in Elite Football Players. |
| Trial Acronym |
NIL |
|
Secondary IDs if Any
|
| Secondary ID |
Identifier |
| NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)
|
| Name |
Prajyot jadhav |
| Designation |
Postgraduate Student |
| Affiliation |
Datta Meghe College Of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Department of Sports Physiotherapy , Shri Datta Meghe Polytechnic Campus, Wanadongri , Nagpur
Nagpur
MAHARASHTRA
441110
India |
| Phone |
7709528128 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
prajyotjadhav45@gmail.com |
|
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
|
| Name |
Dr Ashish Agrawal |
| Designation |
Head Of Sports Physiotherapy Department |
| Affiliation |
Datta Meghe College Of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Department of Sports Physiotherapy , Shri Datta Meghe Polytechnic Campus, Wanadongri , Nagpur
Nagpur
MAHARASHTRA
441110
India |
| Phone |
9326811030 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
ashu25ashish@gmail.com |
|
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
|
| Name |
Dr Ashish Agrawal |
| Designation |
Head Of Sports Physiotherapy Department |
| Affiliation |
Datta Meghe College Of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
Department of Sports Physiotherapy , Shri Datta Meghe Polytechnic Campus, Wanadongri , Nagpur
Nagpur
MAHARASHTRA
441110
India |
| Phone |
9326811030 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
ashu25ashish@gmail.com |
|
|
Source of Monetary or Material Support
|
| Datta meghe College Of Physiotherapy Nagpur , Datta Meghe Polytechnic Campus Wanadongri Hingna road Nagpur 441110 |
|
|
Primary Sponsor
|
| Name |
Datta Meghe College Of Physiotherapy Nagpur |
| Address |
Datta Meghe Polytechnic campus wanadongri Hingna road Nagpur 441110 |
| Type of Sponsor |
Research institution and hospital |
|
|
Details of Secondary Sponsor
|
|
|
Countries of Recruitment
|
India |
|
Sites of Study
|
| No of Sites = 1 |
| Name of Principal
Investigator |
Name of Site |
Site Address |
Phone/Fax/Email |
| Dr Prajyot jadhav |
Datta meghe college of physiotherapy OPD and GYM |
Musculoskeletal and Sports Department Ground floor room number 1 Datta Meghe college of Physiotherapy Wanadongri Nagpur
Nagpur
MAHARASHTRA |
07709528128
prajyotjadhav45@gmail.com |
|
|
Details of Ethics Committee
|
| No of Ethics Committees= 1 |
| Name of Committee |
Approval Status |
| NAGAR YUVAK SANSTHA , DATTA MEGHE COLLEGE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY, NAGPUR |
Approved |
|
|
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI
|
|
|
Health Condition / Problems Studied
|
| Health Type |
Condition |
| Patients |
(1) ICD-10 Condition: M708||Other soft tissue disorders related to use, overuse and pressure, |
|
|
Intervention / Comparator Agent
|
| Type |
Name |
Details |
| Comparator Agent |
Long Muscle Length Eccentric Exercise Program |
From Week Zero to Two, hamstring rehabilitation should be done twice weekly, focusing on gradually rebuilding strength and control without causing pain. Each session begins with a five to ten-minute light warm-up of easy aerobic activity and dynamic movement. Exercises include bilateral hamstring bridges (10–12 reps), bilateral 45-degree hip extensions (8–10 reps), and bilateral eccentric sliders (6–8 slow, controlled reps) with emphasis on technique. Ice the injured area for 15 minutes after sessions in the first week to reduce pain and inflammation. Gentle walking without limping is encouraged, with only mild discomfort allowed and rest periods of 60 to 90 seconds between sets. From Week Three to Six, continue twice-weekly sessions, progressing to unilateral hamstring bridges (2 sets of 8–10 reps per leg), unilateral 45-degree hip extensions (2 sets of 6–8 reps), and Nordic hamstring exercises (2 sets of 4–6 reps), starting assisted and advancing as tolerated. Add seated eccentric hamstring curls with the hip flexed at about 120 degrees and knee range from 0 to 90 degrees (10–12 reps), increasing resistance gradually and moving to single-leg work as strength returns. Introduce progressive running drills based on pain and function, starting with jogging in Week Four, acceleration in Week Five, and higher-speed and multidirectional running by Week Six, all within pain-free limits. Each session should start with a proper warm-up and end with gentle hamstring stretching to restore flexibility. Monitor for sharp pain or compensation throughout and adjust intensity or seek professional advice as needed. This approach ensures gradual improvement in strength, flexibility, and function for a safe return to sport |
| Intervention |
Short Muscle Length Eccentric Exercise Program |
Hamstring rehabilitation from Week Zero to Week Six should be performed twice weekly with progressive overload through increased load and repetitions. In Weeks Zero to Two, focus on bilateral exercises like the hamstring bridge for 10 to 12 reps, forty-five degree hip extensions for 8 to 10 reps, and eccentric sliders for 6 to 8 reps, emphasizing controlled movement and pain-free execution. Apply ice to the injured area for 15 minutes after each session during the first week to help reduce pain and inflammation. From Week Three to Six, progress to unilateral exercises with two sets of 8 to 10 reps for the hamstring bridge, 6 to 8 reps for the forty-five degree hip extension, and 4 to 6 reps for the eccentric slider. Include prone eccentric hamstring curls on a machine with the hip extended at 30 degrees and knee flexion from 0 to 90 degrees for 10 to 12 reps, gradually increasing resistance based on pain, moving to unilateral when tolerated. Running drills are introduced progressively based on pain threshold following Silder and colleagues’ nine-stage program, which gradually increases intensity and holding distance while decreasing acceleration and deceleration distances over a total of 50 meters. This structured progression with careful monitoring aligns with evidence supporting eccentric loading at lengthened positions and progressive overload to improve strength, muscle architecture, and reduce reinjury risk in elite football players. Sessions should always begin with a warm-up and end with gentle hamstring stretching to aid recovery and flexibility. Rest intervals and progression should be individualized to prevent sharp pain or compensation while safely advancing rehabilitation. |
|
|
Inclusion Criteria
|
| Age From |
18.00 Year(s) |
| Age To |
40.00 Year(s) |
| Gender |
Both |
| Details |
1. Elite football players (male and female) aged 18–40 years.
2. Diagnosed with acute hamstring strain injury (Grade 1) confirmed by clinical examination and mechanism of injury
3. No previous hamstring strain injury in the past 6 months
4. Willing to participate in a 6-week rehabilitation program and follow-up .
|
|
| ExclusionCriteria |
| Details |
1. Grade 2 hamstring tear, Complete hamstring muscle tear (Grade 3) or avulsion injuries.
2. History of lower extremity surgery or other significant musculoskeletal injuries in the past year.
3. Any systemic or neurological conditions that may affect rehabilitation outcomes.
|
|
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Method of Generating Random Sequence
|
Computer generated randomization |
|
Method of Concealment
|
An Open list of random numbers |
|
Blinding/Masking
|
Outcome Assessor Blinded |
|
Primary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
1.Isometric limb muscle strength measured using an Texon Digital Back – Leg – Chest Dynamometer.
2.Active knee extension test
3.Passive straight leg test
4.Muscle tenderness- examination |
after 6 week |
|
|
Secondary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
1.Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS)
2.Injury Recurrence Rate |
after 6th week |
|
|
Target Sample Size
|
Total Sample Size="122"
Sample Size from India="122"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" |
|
Phase of Trial
|
N/A |
|
Date of First Enrollment (India)
|
21/11/2025 |
| Date of Study Completion (India) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
| Date of First Enrollment (Global) |
Date Missing |
| Date of Study Completion (Global) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
|
Estimated Duration of Trial
|
Years="1"
Months="0"
Days="0" |
|
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
|
Not Applicable |
| Recruitment Status of Trial (India) |
Not Yet Recruiting |
|
Publication Details
|
N/A |
|
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement
|
Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?
Response - NO
|
|
Brief Summary
|
Hamstring injuries are a frequent and frustrating problem for elite footballers, often leading to long breaks from play and high reinjury rates. This study explores whether eccentric exercises performed at a longer muscle length (like seated hamstring curls) are more effective than those at shorter lengths (like prone hamstring curls) in helping players recover faster, regain strength, and avoid reinjury.
The study will compare two groups of elite footballers recovering from hamstring strains. One group will follow a rehab plan focusing on long muscle length exercises, while the other uses short muscle length versions. Over six weeks, both groups will train twice weekly and complete a range of strength, flexibility, and functional tests before and after the program. A three-month follow-up will track any reinjuries.
The goal is to identify which rehab strategy offers better clinical and functional outcomes , ultimately helping athletes return to peak performance with reduced risk of recurring injuries.
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