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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06198036

Effects of Hold-Relax and Muscle Energy Techniques for Hamstring Flexibility

The most important aspect of physical fitness is flexibility, which can be greatly impacted by bad posture. Long periods of sitting in school going children can cause the hamstring muscles to shorten because they bend the knee. There are numerous methods for improving hamstring flexibility, but very few of them produce immediate results. The purpose of this study will be to compare between the immediate effects of hold-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and muscle energy technique (MET) for hamstring flexibility in school going children. This will be the randomized clinical trial in which total time of six month will be utilized after the approval from BASR. Data will be collected from Unique Science School Al-Rehman Campus, Lahore. 106 participants will be taken with 05-12 years of age through purposive sampling technique. Participants will be divided into two equal groups. Participants in group A will be given hold-relax PNF and the group B will underwent METs (reciprocal inhibition). Hamstring ROM will be assessed through AKET. Measurements will be taken by goniometer. Wong-Baker faces pain scale (WBFPS) and Timed 'Up and Go' (TUG) test will be used to evaluate pain and functional mobility respectively. Data will be analyzed on SPSS version 25. Results after statistical analysis will show which technique is more effective and will have best outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Child Development

Age range

5 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Riphah International University

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

About this study

The most important aspect of physical fitness is flexibility, which can be greatly impacted by bad posture that might occur from a sedentary lifestyle of a person and a reduction in the soft tissues' flexibility cause serious musculoskeletal injuries. Long periods of sitting in school going children can cause the hamstring muscles to shorten because they bend the knee. There are numerous methods for improving hamstring flexibility, but very few of them produce immediate results. The literature demonstrated that the two most successful stretching methods to compare were hold-relax and MET but there is paucity to determine their immediate effectiveness.

The purpose of this study will be to compare between the immediate effects of hold-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and muscle energy technique (MET) for hamstring flexibility in school going children and to determine which strategy improves hamstring flexibility in school-aged children the fastest and with the best results. This will be the randomized clinical trial in which total time of six month will be utilized after the approval from BASR. Data will be collected from Unique Science School Al-Rehman Campus, Lahore. 106 participants will be taken with 05-12 years of age through purposive sampling technique. Participants will be divided into two equal groups. Participants in group A will be given hold-relax PNF and the group B will underwent METs (reciprocal inhibition). Hamstring ROM will be assessed through AKET. Measurements will be taken by goniometer. Wong-Baker faces pain scale (WBFPS) and Timed 'Up and Go' (TUG) test will be used to evaluate pain and functional mobility respectively. Data will be analyzed on SPSS version 25. Results after statistical analysis will show which technique is more effective and will have best outcomes

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 5-12 years children
  • Gender (both male and female)
  • Normal children
  • Hamstring tightness (minimum degree <160 degrees

Exclusion criteria

  • Regular athletes
  • Past pathology
  • Post fracture of limb
  • Leg length discrepancy
  • History of spinal cord injury
  • Presence of physical deformities
  • Subject not willing to participate
  • Subject using lower limb prosthesis or orthotic device

Treatment and study plan

Hold-Relax Technique

Other

Participants in this group will be treated with hold-relax PNF Technique

Muscle Energy Technique

Other

Participants in this group will be treated with Muscle Energy Technique via Reciprocal Inhibition Mechanism

Primary outcomes

  1. Goniometer

    Time frame: eight weeks

    The universal full circle goniometer is arguably the preferred instrument for measuring ROM for the majority of applications to the extremities. This version, which has a body, moving arm, and stationary arm, is the most prevalent. When comparing radiographic measurements with goniometric measurements in sedated and unsedated cats, joint measurements did not change significantly by measurement type. Cronbach alpha values for goniometric joint measurements were more than 0.99.

  2. Active Knee Extension Test (AKET)

    Time frame: eight weeks

    The Active Knee Extension Test measures the range of active knee extension when the hip is flexed as well as the length of the hamstring muscles. If the body positions are sufficiently stable, this test has a high degree of reliability. This test, a self-monitored variation of the active knee extension test, has also proven to be successful when performed by the person being tested. Among healthy individuals, the inter-rater and intra rater dependability has been proven.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Wong Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPS)

    Time frame: Eight weeks

    The Wong Baker Faces Pain Scale is a self-report tool designed to determine how much pain children are experiencing. Using scales of various facial expressions and matching a child's pain level to a similar face is one method of measuring pain in children. The Faces scale is an ordinal outcome measure that contains a minimal and predetermined number of categorical responses that are presented in a predetermined pattern. It is used to measure the rating of pain.

  2. Timed 'Up and Go' Test (TUG)

    Time frame: Eight Weeks

    The Timed Up and Go test (TUG test), also used to measure functional mobility in children, is a useful tool. The TUG test calculates how long it takes to stand up, go forward 10 feet, turn around, move backward, and then sit down. The TUG test shows strong consistency and correlation with other evaluation instruments.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparative Effects of Hold-Relax and Muscle Energy Techniques for Hamstring Flexibility In School Going Children

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 10, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 13, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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