Hamstring flexibility in young women following passive stretch and muscle energy technique.

BACKGROUND

Research is limited and controversial on the effectiveness of various stretching methods on muscle lengthening.

OBJECTIVE

Studying the effectiveness of static stretch and muscle energy technique on the flexibility of hamstring muscles.

METHODS

Thirty young females (20-25 yrs old) participated voluntarily in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: static stretch group (controls; n=15) and muscle energy technique (MET) group (experimental; n=15). The control group underwent ten sessions of static stretches of hamstring muscle, and the experimental group was assigned to ten sessions of MET at 50% voluntary isometric contraction. Hamstring flexibility was evaluated by passive knee extension test at baseline and again following interventions.

RESULTS

Both treatment methods were capable of significantly improving the shortness of hamstring muscles (P< 0.01); and no considerable difference was observed between the methods.

CONCLUSION

Ten sessions of hamstring stretches in normal young women using either static stretch or MET had similar effect on restoring flexibility to hamstrings.