Effect of Exercises on Hamstring Muscle Function, Injury Risk, Agility and Cognitive Function

Hamstring muscle injuries (HMI) occurs frequently during excessive motions of the physiologic capability of these muscles. It is reported in the literature that impairments in muscle architecture, such as a decrease in the eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles of the knee (lengthening and contraction of the muscle), delay in the reaction time of the hamstring muscles, overactivity of the hamstring muscles, a decrease in the length of the hamstring muscle fibers, and inadequate cognitive functions may lead to HMI. Preventive and therapeutic exercises of HMI consist many different eccentric exercises, such as the Askling L-protocol and particularly Nordic hamstring exercise, for increasing the hamstring flexibility. However, it has been stated in recent studies that hamstring muscles should not be focused on alone, and a holistic exercise intervention that includes and addresses the present risk factors related to HMI is needed. Within our knowledge, the effect of a defined or improved holistic exercise approach to prevent and/or treat HMI has not been studied in the literature. Considering the risk factors underlying HMI, an exercise involving a holistic approach is needed to prevent all the risk factors. Turkish Get Up (TGU) exercise is a kind of cognitive exercise which activates all muscles and let to contract simultaneously during standing up from the supine position and turning back in 7 stages. Since the exercise originates from former Turkish athletes, it has been included in the literature as TGU. Hence, the exercise originates from former Turkish athletes, it has called as TGU. TGU exercise improves the effective and strong transition ability of the body while developing the pattern of standing up from the lying position on the floor and turning back by increasing condition/ endurance. Meanwhile, this exercise is a progressive coordinative and cognitive exercise, it requires completing each step before the next movement. The role of cognitive skills a