Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Shahid Beheshty University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Azadeh Shadmehr, PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Piche Shemiran, Enghelab Avenue, Tehran, Iran. Tel.: +98 21 7753 5132; Fax: +98 21 7753 4133; E-mail: shadmehr@tums.ac.ir
Abstract: 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.
Keywords: Hamstring flexibility, passive stretching, muscle energy technique, knee extension
