What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to establish normative values for H-test kinematic outcomes in healthy athletes and explore the impact of sport discipline and limb dominance on performance.

June 3, 2026International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy0 citationsOpen Access

Normative H-Test Values in a Cohort of 113 Healthy Soccer and Track-and-Field Athletes at High Risk for Hamstring Injury

SLSébastien Latella JFJulen Ferreira LBLois Broquet

Key Points

This study aims to establish normative values for H-test kinematic outcomes in healthy athletes and explore the impact of sport discipline and limb dominance on performance.
Competitive track-and-field and soccer athletes performed the H-test without a history of hamstring injuries in the last six months.
The H-test measures hip flexion at maximal velocity and amplitude in a supine position, recording metrics such as range of motion and angular velocity.
Values were analyzed using ANOVA to compare athletes across disciplines.
H-test values showed high consistency with mean range of motion at 105.1°±10.8 and maximum angular velocity at 342.8°.s -1 ±49.5.
No significant differences were found between limb and discipline for range of motion and maximum angular velocity.
A small but non-clinically meaningful difference in angle at peak velocity percentage was found between track-and-field and soccer athletes.

Abstract

Background Hamstring strain injury (HSI) and re-injury are major issues in track and field (T&F) and soccer (SOC). Askling’s return-to-sport H-test is reproductible and valid and can be used to objectively measure dynamic flexibility and kinematic outcomes. However, no normative values exist to support its interpretability across disciplines. Purpose To establish normative values for the main H-test kinematic outcomes in healthy competitive track and field and soccer athletes, and to examine the effects of sport discipline and limb dominance on H-test performance. Study Design Cross sectional, descriptive cohort Methods Competitive T&F and SOC athletes with no recent history of HSI (within the previous six months) performed H-test on both the dominant (DOM) and non-dominant (NDOM) limbs. The H-test consists of hip flexion at maximal velocity and amplitude, performed in a supine position. Mean range of motion (ROM), maximal angular velocity (Vmax) and angle at peak velocity expressed in degrees (APV°) and percentage of ROM (APV%) were recorded using frame-by-frame two-dimensional video-based angular analysis. Raw values and symmetry between limbs were reported and compared between disciplines using ANOVA. Results One-hundred-and-thirteen athletes (94 males and 19 females, 20.1years, 176.6cm, 68.6kg, 46 T&F, 67 SOC) were included. H-test values were highly consistent, with 105.1°±10.8 (LSI=101.5%), 342.8°.s -1 ±49.5 (LSI=102.7%), 60.6°±7.9 (LSI=100.6%) and 57.6%±3.6 for ROM, Vmax, APV° and APV%, respectively. No differences between limb and discipline existed for ROM and Vmax. A small difference (η p ²=0.03) in APV% was observed between T&F and SOC athletes but it was not considered clinically meaningful. Conclusion This is the first study to assess H-test kinematic outcome on a large sample of uninjured HSI at-risk athletes. Clinicians can use these values when interpreting results after hamstring injuries or during pre-season screening, particularly in male athletes. However, caution is warranted, as further studies are needed to confirm the link between H-test performance and injury risk, along with more research involving female populations. Level of Evidence 2C

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