TITLE
Recent evidence on effectivenessof reciprocal inhibition in stretching of hamstring
AUTHOR
Gaurav Grover
Unpublished article
Master of Science AdvancingPractice
Nursing and Physiotherapy
School of Health and Population Sciences,
College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham
DATE
27 th February 2012
Abstract
Background:
Hamstringinjury prevention is an issue where a lot of contention is involved based onits causative factors. Uncoordinated co-contraction of a structurally weakmuscle is one among many. In preventive stretching interventions a component ofreciprocal-inhibition is used as a neuro-inhibitory mechanism among otheroverlapping mechanisms. This is performed with Agonist contract –Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation comparing (AC-PNFS), whereas traditionallythis intervention is used with “static-stretch like” components included inthat. Static-stretch (SS) in itself has mechanisms having no clear differentiationof one better than other. Altogether, in AC-PNFS there is another addedneuro-inhibitory component of reciprocal inhibition and effectiveness of thisover other is stated in literature but with no systematic review is publishedon that.
Objectives :
Researchquestion 1: To evaluate the effectiveness of Reciprocal inhibition instretching of hamstrings through recent evidence.
Researchquestion 2: To compare the role of AC-PNFS vs SS in hamstring muscle in longterm and short term through a systematic review.
Methodology:
Articles were searched through electronic resources,periodicals and inter-library loans for randomized controlled trials publishedrecently and comparing AC-PNFS vs SS. Thereafter, mean difference (SD) and riskof bias was collected from 5 included trials.
Results:
No consensus was found among 5 articles. Effect sizecalculation revealed no significant difference between both interventions inincreasing flexibility and performance, but it did increased EMG signals due toSS
Authors' conclusions :
There isno significant difference between AC-PNFS and SS in increasing flexibility andperformance, whereas changes in EMG suggests that effects of reciprocalinhibition cannot be ignored.
