Effect of pelvic position and stretching method on hamstring muscle flexibility.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Kinesiology
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Hamstring muscle strains are common athletic injuries.
• Limited hamstring flexibility is a known risk factor.
• Optimal stretching techniques for hamstring flexibility remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare static stretching (SS) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for hamstring flexibility.
• To investigate the influence of anterior pelvic tilt (APT) versus posterior pelvic tilt (PPT) on stretching efficacy.
• To determine the most effective method for enhancing hamstring flexibility in athletes.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of 10 subjects were assigned to either APT or PPT positions.
• Subjects underwent eight stretching sessions, alternating between SS and PNF on each leg.
• Hamstring flexibility was measured using the active knee extension test (AKET) at 90 degrees hip flexion.

Main Results:

• The APT group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in hamstring flexibility (P = 0.0375).
• No significant difference in flexibility gains was observed between SS and PNF within the APT group.
• The PPT group showed no significant improvement in hamstring flexibility regardless of the stretching technique used.

Conclusions:

• Anterior pelvic tilt (APT) is a more critical factor than the specific stretching technique (SS or PNF) for improving hamstring flexibility.
• These findings suggest that optimizing pelvic positioning is key for effective hamstring stretching protocols.
• This research provides valuable insights for developing injury prevention strategies for athletes.