Immediate Effects of Hamstring Stretching Alone or Combined With Myofascial Release

To assess the immediate effects of hamstring stretching alone or combined with myofascial release of the hamstring muscle on masseter muscle activity, pressure pain threshold, active mouth opening, hamstring flexibility, and forward head flexed posture in recreationally active participants. The young, healthy, recreationally active adults aged 18-25 years were included in the study. The participants were randomly separated into two groups of equal number. Static stretching alone was applied to one group and this was combined with myofascial release techniques (SSMR) for the other group. Masseter muscle activity was assessed using a NORAXON® surface electromyography device. Both pre-and post-intervention, mechanical pressure algometer was used to measure the pressure pain threshold, hamstring flexibility was evaluated using the maximum hip flexion and active knee extension test, the maximum mouth opening (MMO) was measured with the millimetric ruler, and forward flexed posture was evaluated using the tragus to wall distance test.

Inclusion Criteria:Individuals who had no previous hamstring injuryIndividuals had a Straight Leg Raise test <80°Individuals had a pressure-pain threshold difference between two symmetrical points not exceeding 2 kg/cm2Individuals who had no previous hamstring injury had no deviation during mouth opening and closingExclusion Criteria:acute low back pain or musculoskeletal pain in the lower extremitiesrecent spinal surgeryprevious whiplash injury