Compressive Versus Decompressive Soft Tissue Therapy on Acute Hamstring Flexibility and Pain in Male Athletes with Percieved Hamstring Tightness

Abstract

This study examined the effects of two different soft tissue therapies on hamstring flexibility, strength, and perceived pain and function. The compressive therapy, the Graston Technique (GT) was compared to the decompressive therapy, myofacial decompression (MFD). Twenty male athletes were recruited from the Oklahoma State University Cheer team who had complaints of hamstring pain and/or lack of flexibility and function. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups and received a single, 4-minute treatment of either the GT therapy (n=10) or the MFD therapy (n=10). Flexibility, strength and a Perceived Functional Ability Questionnaire (PFAQ) were measured both before and after the therapy, and a Global Rating of Change (GROC) scale was measured after the therapy. A paired samples t-test was used to determine if there were differences between the pre and post measurements regardless of group, while a two-way ANOVA was used to determine any differences between groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found for an overall improvement in range of motion and strength measurements regardless of the therapy that the subjects received. When comparing pre and post measurements, no significant findings were identified for all flexibility and strength measurements. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing perception of hamstring flexibility, pain in hamstrings and effect on sport performance on the PFAQ scale. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that both GT and MFD are effective therapies for improving hamstring flexibility and strength and decreasing pain immediately following the therapy.