EFFECTS OF STATIC STRETCH VERSUS HOLD RELAX IN IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY OF TIGHT HAMSTRINGS

Abstract

Introduction: Hamstrings are a group of muscles which acts on two joint systems, performing multiple functions, thus prone to various injuries. Muscle tightness can be caused by active or passive mechanisms. Active mechanism involves shortening by spasm or contraction while passive mechanism involves postural adaptation or scarring for muscular shortening. Nevertheless, hamstring muscles usually become tight regardless of active or sedentary lifestyle. It is proved that hamstring tightness is the main leading factor to the risk of disorders of the knee and spine. This study was designed to find out immediate effect of Hold Relax versus Static Stretch on hamstrings tightness.

Material & Methods: Seventy subjects were included (age 18-30) without excessive hamstring muscle flexibility and were randomly assigned to the one of two stretch groups. Group A was treated with static stretching and Group B was treated with hold relax technique. The left leg was treated as a control and did not receive any intervention. The Right leg was measured for Range of motion pre and post stretch intervention. Data was analysed with paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test to see the effectiveness of hold relax and static stretch in hamstring tightness. Self-made questionnaire was used and asymptomatic participants having tight hamstrings were included in the study after their consent form was signed. Only those subjects who fulfilled inclusion criteria were included in the study.

Results: Paired sample t-test for both case and control group showed that there was significant improvement in the hamstring flexibility as the p value for both groups were less than 0.05 (p value 0.00). So, both HR and SS improves SLR. Independent sample t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups as p value was greater than 0.05 (p value 0.011). So, both of these treatment techniques have same effect in the improvement of hamstring tightness with mean difference -3.543 and standard error 1.360.

Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that both Hold Relax and static stretch techniques are equally effective in the release of hamstrings tightness.