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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Jun 12;53(5):1293-1300.
doi: 10.55730/1300-0144.5695. eCollection 2023.

Effect of thoracic mobilization exercises on hamstring flexibility: a randomized controlled trial

Aybüke Ersin  1 , Meltem Kaya  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of thoracic mobilization exercises on hamstring flexibility: a randomized controlled trial

Aybüke Ersin et al. Turk J Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background and aim: The aim was to investigate the effect of thoracic mobilization exercises on hamstring flexibility.

Materials and methods: One hundred twenty individuals with hamstring tightness were included in the study. The participants were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (EG) (n = 60) or the control group (CG) (n = 60). The EG performed a home-based thoracic mobilization exercise program comprising 2 sets with 10 repetitions, once a day, 3 days a week, for 4 weeks. The CG performed active-assisted stretching of the hamstring comprising 3 sets with 10 repetitions for 15 seconds. The active knee extension (AKE) test was used to measure hamstring flexibility, and self-reported hamstring pain intensity was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). All evaluations were conducted at the beginning and end of the intervention.

Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in AKE (p<0.05). Pain intensity during the stretching exercises was significantly decreased only in the EG. The improvements in AKE and VAS score were greater in the EG than in the CG (p < 0.05). Between-group effect sizes were large for AKE (d = 1.075) and VAS score (d = 1.077).

Conclusion: The current study showed that thoracic mobilization exercises may increase hamstring flexibility and reduce pain intensity during hamstring stretch exercises.

Keywords: Hamstring muscles; exercise; fascia; pain.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest with respect to this study. The authors received no funding before, during or after the completion of this study.

Figures

Figure 1a
Figure 1a
Thoracic mobilization exercises (experimental group).
Figure 1b
Figure 1b
Thoracic mobilization exercises (experimental group).
Figure 1c
Figure 1c
Thoracic mobilization exercises (experimental group).
Figure 1d
Figure 1d
Thoracic mobilization exercises (experimental group).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hamstring stretching (control group).
Figure 3
Figure 3
CONSORT flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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