Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2022-3
Immediate effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hamstring muscles on straight leg raise,craniovertebral angle,and cervical spine range of motion in neck pain patients with hamstring tightness: A prospective randomized controlled trial
The cranio-cervical flexion exercise and sub-occipital muscle inhibition technique have been used to improve a forward head posture among neck pain patients with straight leg raise (SLR) limitation. However, little is known about the cranio-vertebral angle (CVA) and cervical spine range of motion (CROM) after applying stretching methods to the hamstring muscle.
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the immediate effects of static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on SLR, CVA, and CROM in neck pain patients with hamstring tightness.
METHODS:
64 subjects were randomly allocated to the static stretching ( 32) or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation ( 32) stretching group. The SLR test was performed to measure the hamstring muscle’s flexibility and tightness between the two groups, with CROM and CVA also being measured. The paired t-test was used to compare all the variables within each group before and after the intervention. The independent t-test was used to compare the two groups before and after the stretching exercise.
RESULTS:
There were no between-group effects for any outcome variables ( 0.05). However, all SLR, CVA, and CROM outcome variables were significantly improved within-group ( 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
There were no between-group effects for any outcome variable; however, SLR, CVA, and CROM significantly improved within-group after the one-session intervention in neck pain patients with hamstring tightness.
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