Immediate effects of the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in subjects with short hamstring syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in patients with short hamstring syndrome by means of tests designed to evaluate the elasticity of the hamstring muscles and pressure algometry of myofascial trigger points. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial (pre and postintervention). The study population comprised young adult students following their studies at the Physiotherapy School at the University of Extremadura (Spain) and footballers from an Extremadura Football Club with short hamstring syndrome. The sample (70 subjects = 47 male and 23 female) was randomly divided into a control group (n = 34) and an intervention group (n = 36). Mean sample age was 23.40 +/- 3.82 years. The control group was subjected to a placebo technique, whereas the intervention group was subjected to the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique. Pre and postintervention evaluation was used for the assessment of hamstring elasticity, and pressure algometry was also used (myofascial trigger points). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 14.5 package (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill), comparing the sample between groups (Kolmorogov-Smirnov test, Student t test, 2-way analysis of variance [ANOVA], the chi(2) test). RESULTS: The distribution of the quantitative variables was normal, and the mean time doing physical activity per week was 2.82 +/- 4.03 hours. Two-way ANOVA afforded statistically significant results for the finger-floor test, straight leg raise test-left, straight leg raise test-right, left popliteal angle test (P values < .001), and right popliteal angle test (P = .005). For pressure algometry, only the right semimembranosus muscle afforded statistically significant differences (P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: According to the finger-floor distance test, the straight leg raise test, and the popliteal angle test, the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique modified the elasticity of the hamstring muscles for this group of subjects. The suboccipital muscle inhibition technique modifies the pressure algometry of the semimembranosus muscle but does not modify that of the semitendinosus muscle or biceps femoris.

Influência da prática regular de futebol sobre a elasticidade da cadeia muscular cinética reta posterior de jovens / Influence of the soccer practice on the elasticity of the posterior muscular chain in young men

No presente estudo foi realizada a avaliação da elasticidade da cadeia muscular cinética reta posterior (CRP) de jovens futebolistas (n = 100) pertencentes às categorias juvenil e amador (16 a 25 anos) de duas escolas de futebol da cidade de Salamanca (Espanha), estabelecendo uma comparação com os resultados obtidos em uma população (n = 37) de estudantes universitários (grupo controle), de idade cronológica similar, e que não praticavam o esporte regularmente. Foi avaliado o grau de elasticidade da musculatura isquiotibial e do tríceps sural de ambos os membros inferiores, utilizando-se o teste de elevação da perna estendida (EPR) e o método do zero. Para a medida da flexibilidade global da CRP foi utilizado o método sit and reach. Os dados foram analisados com o programa estatístico SPSS (análise descritiva, Test T- Student e coeficiente de Pearson). Os resultados revelam que, quando comparados com o grupo controle, os praticantes de futebol apresentaram elasticidade superior da musculatura isquiotibial e elasticidade inferior da musculatura do triceps sural. Em relação à elasticidade global não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas.

This study evaluated the elasticity of the legs posterior muscular chain of soccer players (n = 100), youthful and amateur, of Salamanca City (Spain). Data were compared with ones of young colleges students (37) of similar age, that did not play soccer. The degree of elasticity of the hamstrings and triceps surae muscles was evaluated by means “straight leg rising” and “zero test”. For the measure of the global elasticity of the posterior muscular chain was used the “sit and reach” test. The data had been analyzed with statistical program SPSS 11.0 (descriptive analysis, test TStudent for independent samples and coefficient of Pearson). The results disclose that soccer practitioners had presented superior elasticity of the hamstrings muscles and inferior elasticity of the triceps surae muscles. The global elasticity did not present significant differences.