IMPACT OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE, SUB-OCCIPITAL MUSCLE INHIBITION TECHNIQUE AND STATIC STRETCHING ON HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY AMONG IT WORKERS WITH HAMSTRING TIGHTNESS

M. Abraham M.¹, V.M. Kumar¹

¹KG College of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy, Coimbatore, India

Background: Flexibility is the vital component of fitness required for most musculoskeletal functioning and maximizing the performance of physical activities. Flexibility dysfunction is the widespread problem faced by common people as well as sports persons, especially in case of hamstring group of muscles. Limited mobility leads to musculoskeletal disorders, hamstring tightness and consequence is joint hypomobility, nerve compression or spinal disc degeneration causing low back pain. Sitting for longer duration may be a contributing factor for reduced hamstring flexibility.

Purpose: The main aim of the study was to find the impact of myofascial release, sub-occipital muscle inhibition technique and static stretching on hamstring flexibility among IT workers with hamstring tightness.

Methods: The study was conducted at the outpatient department of K.G College of physiotherapy, Coimbatore. 45 patients with hamstring tightness were selected based on the selection criteria and were equally divided into 3 groups of 15 members each by purposive sampling method. Group A (myofascial release technique) consisting of 15 subjects, group B (sub-occipital inhibition) consisting of 15 subjects and group C (static stretching) consisting of 15 subjects. They were assessed for Hamstring flexibility with Active Knee Extension Test. Within group analysis of group A, B and C were analyzed by paired ‘t’ test . Between group analysis of group A, B and C were analyzed by one way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test.

Results: All the 3 groups show significant differences in the pretest and posttest values. The calculated ‘t’ value for the Active knee extension (Right) for Group A is -38.293 ,the ‘t’ value for the Group B is -41.566 and the ‘t’ value for the Group C is -29.580. Subjects in Group B show superior mean difference than Group A and Group C with F value = 61.918. The calculated‘t’ value for the Active knee extension (Left) for Group A is -37.624, the ‘t’ value for the Group B is -57.865 and the ‘t’ value for the Group C is -18.135. Subjects in Group B show superior mean difference than Group A and Group C with F value = 87.896.

Conclusions: The study concluded that there was statistically significant improvement seen in hamstring flexibility among all the 3 groups after 4 weeks of intervention. But suboccipital muscle inhibition technique group showed better results than myofascial release therapy group and static stretching group. So the study concluded that sub occipital muscle inhibition technique was more effective in improving the flexibility of hamstrings among IT subjects with hamstring tightness.

Implications: Effect of Suboccipital muscle inhibition on hamstring flexibility also resulted in improving flexibility due to the connection to dura mater, postural control, myofascial chain connection. Even five consecutive sessions of sub occipital inhibition technique reduced the hamstring tightness in normal healthy population, which would reduce patient’s disability and improve their wellbeing.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding was involved in this study.

Keywords:
Hamstring Flexibility
Suboccipital muscle inhibition
Myofascial release technique.

Topics:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Orthopaedics

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: KG Hospital, KG College of Physiotherapy

Committee: IEC

Ethics number: KGHEC00247/2020