The Effects of Soft Tissue Therapy and Exercise on Hamstring Tightness
Condition: Hamstring Tightness; Myofascial Pain; Musculoskeletal Pain
MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      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.
    

Detailed description: 
      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.
    

Intervention name(s): Neurodynamic Sliding; Myofascial Decompression; Diathermy
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 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.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Hamstring tightness; myofascial decompression; cupping; neurodynamic sliding