Knee Flexion Angle at Peak Torque Changes Following Eccentric Hamstring Resistance Training in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Authors

Olivia Kemp, Gretchen Leff, Jessica Juan, Michael Jeanfavre

Published in

JOSPT open. Volume 4. Issue 4. Pages 442-457.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To quantify changes in knee flexion angle at peak torque (APT) following eccentric hamstring resistance training in adults, and to summarize exercises that may promote a shift in APT. DESIGN: Intervention systematic review. LITERATURE SEARCH: PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), Scopus, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), and Web of Science were systematically searched in April 2025. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Prospective studies quantifying the relationship between eccentric hamstring strength and APT were included. Retrospective studies, preliminary work, conference abstracts, and non-English articles were excluded. DATA SYNTHESIS: Findings were synthesized qualitatively using Joanna Briggs Institute and PEDro tools for evaluating methodological quality. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. RESULTS: Nineteen studies (427 participants aged 18-36 years) were included. The APT generally shifted toward longer muscle lengths after eccentric training, with 15 studies reporting this change and 9 groups showing significant shifts. The largest changes occurred with seated eccentric knee flexion (-17.3° ± 11.7°, P < .001) and the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) (-13.5° ± 4.8°, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Eccentric training interventions, particularly the NHE and seated eccentric knee flexion, may contribute to shifts in hamstring peak torque toward more extended muscle lengths. The certainty of evidence was low for all comparisons. JOSPT Open 2026;4(4):442-457. Epub 27 August 2026. doi:10.2519/josptopen.2026.0205.

PMID:
42876231
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Oct 2026.

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