Comparative effectiveness of Static Stretch and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretch on Hamstring Flexibility in Young Adult Females Joshi Manasi, Intern, Akre Ambarish*, Associate Professor DES Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India *Corresponding author: Ambarish Akre, Associate Professor, DES Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Fergusson College Campus, Pune- 411 004. E-mail: physioambarishakre1412@gmail.com, Tel: +91-9970577204
Online published on 19 June, 2015. Abstract Objective To compare the effect of static stretch and PNF stretch on hamstrings flexibility in young adult females. Methodology This was a pilot study done amongst students at DES Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Pune between October 2013 to February 2014. Total 30 females of the age group of 18–30 years were selected by convenient sampling. The subjects were required to have tight hamstring as defined by a 20 degree knee extension angle (KEA) with the hip in 90 degree of hip flexion. The pre intervention flexibility of hamstrings was measured by a universal goniometer. Subjects in one group received a passive static stretch to the hamstrings for 30 seconds. Subjects in the other group got a Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretch for 30 seconds. The range of motion after the respective stretches was again measured. Results Paired and Unpaired t test was done to compare the hamstrings flexibility pre and post the static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretches and between the two stretching techniques. The difference in the pre and post hamstrings flexibility was found to be extremely significant (p < 0.0001) in both the groups. However there was no significant difference in the post stretching measurements between the two stretching techniques. Conclusion A single session of static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular (PNF) stretching both significantly increase the hamstrings flexibility. When compared between the two, no intervention is significantly better than the other. Top Keywords Hamstring flexibility, Static stretch, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular (PNF) stretch. Top |