The Effects of Two Techniques of Static Stretch and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretch on the Degree of Flexibility of Hamstring Muscles of Non-Dominant Leg Girl School-Students.

Initially the purpose of this research work was to compare the effects of the two techniques of Static Stretch and Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretch with the help of proprioceptors on the flexibility of the hamstring muscles. Sixty girl-students for this purpose falling between 17 and 24 years of age with the non-dominant leg hamstring muscles flexibility having limitations (Active Knee Extension range of movement <70°) were randomly grouped into three categories namely Experimental Static (n = 20), Experimental PNF (n=20), and the Control Category (n=20). A 6-week-warm-up program, comprising light-running for all the three groups, a hamstring-muscle-stretch of the non-dominant leg on the tests of the Static-Experimental Group by means of Static Stretch Method, and on the basis of PNF Stretch in the PNF Experimental Group for 5-day-a-week was conducted. Flexibility of the hamstring muscles (movement range of the Active Knee Extension) of the non-dominant leg by utilizing Active Knee Extension Test measurement was carried out on all the three groups before starting the exercises and after the end of the exercises. The data were statistically reviewed and analyzed. The results revealed that the Static Stretch and the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretch(PNF) methods had their effects on the degree¬ of the flexibility of the hamstring muscles (Active Knee Movement Range Extension) non-dominant leg. Moreover, from statistical point of view, there has been no meaningful disparity between the effects of the two methods of Static Stretch and PNF on the degree of flexibility of hamstring muscles non-dominant leg.