The Effects of Soft Tissue Therapy and Exercise on Hamstring Tightness

The Effects of Myofascial Decompression and Neurodynamic Sliding on the Hamstring for Division I Track and Field Athletes With Hamstring Tightness

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of myofascial decompression (cupping) and neurodynamic sliding technique for the hamstring on Division I Track and Field athletes who complain of hamstring tightness. Research questions will be: how do these techniques affect hamstring range of motion and flexibility; isometric strength of the hamstring muscle; muscle activation; and rate of force development. The hypotheses of this study are that neurodynamic sliding will have an effect on all variables and myofascial decompression will only have an effect on range of motion.

Predisposing factors to hamstring injury include neural tension and muscle flexibility restrictions due to fascial adhesions. The sciatic nerve can produce symptoms of pain, decreased range of motion, and increased resting muscle tone when it is overstretched. The nerve can be overstretched after a hamstring injury and cause adhesions on the nerve and abnormal mechanosensitivity leading to perceived hamstring tightness.The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of myofascial decompression (cupping) and neurodynamic sliding technique for the hamstring on Division I Track and Field athletes who complain of hamstring tightness. Research questions will be: how do these techniques affect hamstring range of motion and flexibility; isometric strength of the hamstring muscle; muscle activation; and rate of force development. The hypotheses of this study are that neurodynamic sliding will have an effect on all variables and myofascial decompression will only have an effect on range of motion.

neurodynamic sliding consists of 2 movements; 1) movement 1 involves sitting on the edge of the treatment table the bringing their neck to their chest along with bending their knee and pointing their ankle to the ground. Movement 2 is performed by facing their head towards the ceiling and straightening their knee while pointing their ankle towards their nose. Subjects will alternate these 2 active movements for 60s and repeated 5 times, with rest period of 15s between sets.

For the group receiving the cupping treatment, the subject will lay on their stomach and their affected hamstring will be exposed. Cocoa butter will be applied to the hamstring prior to the application of the cups. 5 cups will be placed along the hamstring and calf muscles. Using a handheld suction pump, each cup will be pumped so that skin fills up half of the cup. The cups will stay in place for five minutes and the clinician will instruct the subject to perform 5 repetitions of active quad sets and 5 repetitions of ankle pumps .

The control group will receive a sham heat (diathermy treatment). The subjects will be asked to sit and relax for five minutes and the machine will not be turned on with a timer timing the treatment.

Subjects in the neurodynamic sliding group perform 2 movements; 1) movement 1 involves sitting on the edge of the treatment table the bringing their neck to their chest along with bending their knee and pointing their ankle to the ground. Movement 2 is performed by facing their head towards the ceiling and straightening their knee while pointing their ankle towards their nose. Subjects will alternate these 2 active movements for 60s and repeated 5 times, with rest period of 15s between sets. A metronome will be set at 30 beats per minute for 15 full slides per minute to standardize the amount of slides per session.

For the group receiving the cupping treatment, the subject will lay on their stomach and their affected hamstring will be exposed. Cocoa butter will be applied to the hamstring prior to the application of the cups. 5 cups will be placed along the hamstring and calf muscles. Using a handheld suction pump, each cup will be pumped so that skin fills up half of the cup. The cups will stay in place for five minutes and the clinician will instruct the subject to perform 5 repetitions of active quad sets and 5 repetitions of ankle pumps .

The control group will receive a sham heat (diathermy treatment). The subjects will be asked to sit and relax for five minutes and the machine will not be turned on with a timer timing the treatment.

Using the 'Active Knee Extension test', subjects are placed supine with both the hip and knee positioned at 90° of flexion and then asked to extend lower leg until point of limitation. A digital inclinometer is used to measure the angle of the knee joint in this position to examine flexibility of the hamstring muscle group.

Peak torque production of the hamstring muscles will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer with the subjects performing a maximum voluntary isometric contraction with the knee in a slightly flexed position.

The electrical activation signaling of the hamstring muscles will be measured using electromyography during the isometric contraction.

The Disablement of the Physically Active Scale (DPAS) paper survey will be used to assess subject perceptions of impairment, limitation, disability and quality of life related to their hamstring discomfort. The scale ranges from 0 (No disability) to 64 (Severe disability) in which the scores will be compared.

The Lower Extremity Functional Scale is a questionnaire containing 20 questions about a subject's ability to perform everyday tasks. Scores range from 0-4 and represent 'extreme difficulty' or 'unable to perform activity' to 'no difficulty'. The maximum score on the survey is 80 points, with lower total scores indicating a greater perceived disability.

Inclusion Criteria: Must be in the Sprints, Jumps, or Multi (heptathlon, pentathlon, or decathlon) groups complain of hamstring tightness and/or injury in the last calendar year have less than 80⁰ for Active Knee Extension test. Exclusion Criteria: Past history or current neurological disorders or orthopedic diseases Surgery of the lower extremity that involves an autograft on the tested leg Past history of hamstring surgery Receiving current treatment for a hamstring injury Received any form of myofascial therapy or neurodynamic techniques within the last week unhealed wounds active TB leukemia hemophilia thrombocytopenia fever influenza moderate/severe anemia high blood pressure cardiac conditions late stages of pregnancy