The Efficacy of Focus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hamstring Tightness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To study efficacy of focus extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the flexibility of hamstring muscles in healthy subjects

Official Title
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The Efficacy of Focus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Subjects

Conditions
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Hamstring Tightness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: focus extracorporeal shock wave therapy
* Behavioral: Home stretching program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Limited hamstring flexibility; passive knee extension degree >20 No underlying disease Exclusion Criteria: Patients with history of physical therapy in past 3 month Patient with analgesic drug such as muscle relaxant or NSAID. Patient with limited hamstring flexibility due to neurological or musculoskeletal diseases. Patient with cardiac pacemaker, pregnancy, hypercoagulable conditions, severe osteoporosis, malignancy or active infection around intervention site. Patient with history of chronic knee or back pain Patient cannot follow home stretching exercise program

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: F-ESWT<br>F-EWST with 0.15 mJ/mm2 intensity and 6 Hz frequency for 3 weeks. The shocking head was placed at the muscle positions of the long head of the bicep femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus for 1,000, 500, and 500 shocks, respectively, accounting for 2,000 shocks in total/ session/week. | Device: focus extracorporeal shock wave therapy<br>* F-EWST with 0.15 mJ/mm2 intensity and 6 Hz frequency for 3 weeks. The shocking head was placed at the muscle positions of the long head of the bicep femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus for 1,000, 500, and 500 shocks, respectively, accounting for 2,000 shocks in total/ session/week.<br>Behavioral: Home stretching program<br>* The leaflet on hamstring stretching exercises (in a sitting posture)<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Sham-ESWT<br>sham ESWT by using the focused shockwave device and placing the shocking head in the same muscle positions as performed in the intervention group with 0.01 mJ/mm2 intensity and 6 Hz frequency in 2,000 shocks/session/week for 3 weeks. | Behavioral: Home stretching program<br>* The leaflet on hamstring stretching exercises (in a sitting posture)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Passive knee extension test | The clinician extends the knee until reaching the maximal tolerable stretch of the hamstring muscle as indicated by the patient with the ipsilateral hip remaining in 90 of flexion. The knee angle is then measured with a goniometer | Immediately after every F-ESWT treatment, for 3sessions | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Back-saver sit-and-reach test (BSSR) |  | Immediately after every F-ESWT treatment, for 3sessions | 
| Sit and reach test (SRT) |  | Immediately after every F-ESWT treatment, for 3sessions | 
| Toe touch test (TT) |  | Immediately after every F-ESWT treatment, for 3sessions |