Comparative Effects of Lower Body Quadrant Neural Mobilization and Stretching in Collegiate Football Players

The passive straight leg raise test will be used to determine changes in the flexibility of the hamstring muscle. With the participant in the supine position, the lateral condyle of the femur, fibular head, and fibular malleolus will be identified. The axis of a goniometer will be placed over the protrusion of the greater trochanter of the femur. One of the arms of the goniometer will be placed parallel to the table. The knee and ankle will be kept in the extension position. By holding the talus and without rotating the hip, flexion of the hip will be gradually increased. Participants' lower extremities will be elevated until they complain of pain in the rear thigh area. Care will be taken to ensure that they do not bend their knees and that the pelvis is not in retroversion. Then, the other arm of the goniometer will be placed in the direction of the line between the head of the fibula and the fibular malleolus and the degree of height of the straight leg will be noted.

Participants will stand on the foot plate in the center of the Y Balance Test area. Participants will be instructed to maintain a single-leg stance while reaching as far as possible with the opposite leg and return to the starting position on the middle platform without losing balance. In the test, participants will be allowed 3 attempts for both lower extremities and will be asked to reach the maximum distance in 3 directions anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral. The maximum reach distance will be recorded for each consecutive attempt.

A 2-meter tape measure will be placed on a flat surface for the test. Participants will be asked to stand on one leg with their toes remaining at zero on the tape measure, jump forward as much as possible with their hands on their waist, and land on the same foot. The place where he places his fingertip after jumping will be recorded by reading from the tape measure. Participants will be informed that they must maintain their position for 2 seconds after landing. The test will be applied separately for dominant and non-dominant feet. Participants will be given 1 trial application, followed by 3 tests and the best result will be recorded in centimeters. There will be a 30-second rest between tests.

The T test consists of 4 contact points formed in a T shape in an area of 10 meters long and 10 meters wide. In this test, the aim is to complete a series in the shortest time that requires the participant to move in different directions and in different ways between these contact points, and the participant always looks in the same direction. The participant will change direction by stepping forward, backward, right and left. This test requires covering a total distance of 40 meters, including 10 m forward, 10 m to the right, 10 m to the left and 10 m back.

The BlazePod test, utilizing sensor-equipped pods will assess reaction time by measuring reflexes and instantaneous speed. For lower extremity evaluation, three pods will be mounted on a wall 1.5 m above the floor and 1.5 m apart. Positioned 3 meters away from the wall, athletes will respond to random light signals by running and touching the illuminated compartment. Each trial will consist of 6 light triggers, with 2 trials performed and a 3-minute rest between trials. Performance will be evaluated based on the number of touches, reaction time, and average reaction time over 15 seconds.