Comparative Study between the efficacy of Muscle Energy Technique and Static Passive Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility in Healthy Indian College Athletes

Background: Success in sports depends on athlete's ability to develop and produce a specific set of coordination and joint range of motion/flexibility. Purpose of the study is to compare efficacy of muscle energy technique and static passive stretching on hamstring flexibility in healthy Indian college athletes.

Subjects: The subjects were healthy Indian college athlete from Bangalore metropolitan area.

Method: 30 healthy college athlete subjects with hamstring tightness were randomly allocated to two study groups. Groups-A (n=15) subjects were treated with Muscle energy technique (Isometric contraction - using post isometric relaxation, approximately 30% of patient's strength, Duration of contraction is 20 seconds, muscle is taken to its new restriction barrier and held in this position for at least 60 seconds, three repetition with 15 second of rest interval) where as other group-B (n=15) were treated with static passive stretching (No warm up was allowed prior stretching, Subjects received three stretches of 60 seconds). The treatment was given for 1 day.

Outcome Measure: Subjects were assessed for hamstring flexibility by measuring straight leg raise angle i.e. active straight leg raising range of motion prior and immediately after intervention. Measurement was done by standard universal goniometer.

Results: Paired Samples t -Test showed that Muscle Energy Technique and static Passive Stretching both the treatments are significant (P=0.000). Mann-Whitney Test showed a statistically significant improvement in the Muscle Energy technique group when compared to static passive stretching.

Conclusion: A muscle energy technique is more effective than static passive stretching for improvement in hamstring flexibility.