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Updated: May 17, 2026
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Two stretching treatments for the hamstrings: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation versus kinesio taping
Che-Hsiu Chen1, Tsun-Shun Huang, Huei-Ming Chai
1School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Context:
Recent studies have shown that the static stretch (SS) may adversely affect leg-muscle performance.
Objectives:
The authors examined the short-term effects of 2 stretching exercises on hamstrings muscle before and after exercise.
Design:
Crossover.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Participants:
9 healthy, physically active men.
Interventions:
There were 3 protocols in a randomized order with a 7-d interval: nonstretching (CON protocol), hamstrings static stretching (SS) with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and SS with kinesio-taping application on the hamstrings.
Main Outcome Measures:
Outcome measures included first-felt and maximum tolerant-felt range of motion (FROM and TROM), maximal knee-flexion peak torque (PT) at 180°/s, and hamstrings muscle stiffness.
Results:
Groups were not different at prestretching in terms of hamstrings flexibility, PT, and muscle stiffness. At poststretching, both stretching protocols showed significant increases in FROM and TROM (P < .05). Stiffer hamstrings muscle and decreased PT were found in both SS+PNF and CON protocols (P < .05). However, there was no significant difference in the SS+Taping protocol (P > .05).
Conclusion:
The stretching protocols improve hamstrings flexibility immediately, but after exercise hamstrings peak torque is diminished in the SS+PNF but not in the SS+Taping group. This means that SS+Taping can prevent negative results from exercise, which may prevent muscle injury.
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