Preview
Hüseyin Akbulut, MSc (2026). Nordic Hamstring Strength Test: Protocol and Application. Sporeus. Retrieved, November 4, 2026. https://sporeus.com/en/egzersiz-testleri-en/nordic-hamstring-strength-test/
Measures: Eccentric hamstring strength
Table of Contents
Difficulty: Moderate | Category: Strength
Protocol
The Nordic Hamstring Strength Test assesses eccentric hamstring strength during the Nordic hamstring exercise. It is widely used in team sports to monitor hamstring injury risk.
Preparation: The participant warms up for 10 minutes, including dynamic leg movements and a few light Nordic repetitions.
Test Procedure: The participant kneels with the knees at about 90°; the ankles are secured. Arms are crossed over the chest. Trunk and hips stay neutral, keeping a straight knee-to-shoulder line. The participant lowers forward as slowly as possible, resisting the fall maximally with the hamstrings, and lands on the hands when control is lost. 2–3 repetitions are performed.
Device Measurement: Load cells in the ankle braces (e.g. NordBord) record peak eccentric force for each leg separately. Without a device, only the angle at which control is lost (break point) can be judged by eye or video; this does not replace quantitative force measurement.
Interpretation: In elite Australian footballers, low eccentric strength in preseason was associated with subsequent hamstring injuries (Opar et al., 2015). Results are best interpreted against previous measurements on the same device and by comparing legs.
Post-Test: Cool-down. Left-right asymmetry is assessed.
Formula
Peak eccentric force (N, each leg); relative force = peak force / body mass (N/kg); asymmetry (%) = |right − left| / larger value × 100
Equipment Required
hamstring bench or fixed ankle anchor, exercise mat, force plate (optional)
Interpretation
There is no single widely accepted normative table for this test. Results are best interpreted against the person’s previous measurements with the same protocol and equipment (and, where relevant, left-right comparison).
Practical Applications
The Nordic hamstring test is used to identify hamstring injury risk, monitor the effectiveness of prevention programs, and make return-to-sport decisions after rehabilitation.
Limitations
Protocol standardization is difficult; fall speed is subjective. Quantitative evaluation is limited without a force plate.
Related Tests: Isokinetic Dynamometry Test, 1RM Deadlift Test, Single-Leg Squat Test
Sources: Opar DA et al., 2012, Sports Med; Opar DA et al., 2015, Med Sci Sports Exerc; Timmins RG et al., 2016, Br J Sports Med
Hüseyin Akbulut is the founder of Sporeus and author of THRESHOLD (EŞİK), a 540-page Turkish-language book on endurance science.
- 540pp THRESHOLD Book
- MSc Sport Sciences
- Marmara University
Protocol The Nordic Hamstring Strength Test assesses eccentric hamstring strength during the Nordic hamstring exercise. It is widely used in team sports to monitor hamstring injury risk. Preparation: The participant warms up for 10 minutes, including dynamic leg movements and a few light Nordic repetitions. Test Procedure: The participant kneels with the knees at about 90°; the ankles are secured. Arms are crossed over the chest. Trunk and hips stay neutral, keeping a straight knee-to-shoulder line. The participant lowers forward as slowly as possible, resisting the fall maximally with the hamstrings, and lands on the hands when control is lost. 2–3 repetitions are performed. Device Measurement: Load cells in the ankle braces (e.g. NordBord) record peak eccentric force for each leg separately. Without a device, only the angle at which control is lost (break point) can be judged by eye or video; this does not replace quantitative force measurement. Interpretation: In elite Australian footballers, low eccentric strength in preseason was associated with subsequent hamstring injuries (Opar et al., 2015). Results are best interpreted against previous measurements on the same device and by comparing legs. Post-Test: Cool-down. Left-right asymmetry is assessed. Formula
Peak eccentric force (N, each leg); relative force = peak force / body mass (N/kg); asymmetry (%) = |right − left| / larger value × 100
Equipment Required
hamstring bench or fixed ankle anchor, exercise mat, force plate (optional)
Interpretation
There is no single widely accepted normative table for this test. Results are best interpreted against the person's previous measurements with the same protocol and equipment (and, where relevant, left-right comparison).
