Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique Versus Neuro dynamic Sliding on Hamstring Flexibility and Balance among Athletes

Abstract

Injuries to the hamstring musculature are common in many mainstream sports and occupations involving physical activity. Athletes frequently suffer injuries to the hamstring muscle complex, which accounts for 12% to 26% of all injuries incurred while participating in sports. The prevalence and incidence of hamstring injuries have been widely recognized, especially in football, athletics and cricketers. The hamstring muscles are vital for performing daily activities as well as recreational and athletic activities and are crucial in maintaining balance and posture in standing position. As the hamstrings have tendency to get shorten, this reduced flexibility of hamstring leads to decreased spinal stability and balance, resulting in injury and pain. For both professional and amateur athletes, hamstring injuries are a substantial source of disability and impairment as it can result in decreased athletic performance, loss of training and competition time, increased financial burden for rehabilitation and delayed return to play due to injury, impairing the athlete s perceived quality of life. Therefore, before engaging in any physical activity, it is crucial to assess the hamstring s flexibility. newlineTightness of hamstring is associated to affect static, dynamic balance of body and mobility. The hamstrings serve as a mechanical interface around the sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerve mechanosensitivity is abnormally influenced by nerve adhesions in the hamstrings, affecting neurodynamics, resulting in protective muscle contraction of hamstring which influence hamstring flexibility. The roles of detecting body position and maintaining balance are carried out by the intrafusal fibre, golgi tendon organ, and other proprioceptors. Since the muscle spindles are the primary proprioceptive sensory organs, therefore any change in the length and flexibility of muscle tendon units alters the proprioception which initiates the corresponding muscle responses, consequently affecting balance.