title: Effect of stretching program in an industrial workplace on hamstring flexibility and sagittal spinal posture of adult women workers: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of a stretching program performed in the workplace on the hamstring muscle extensibility and sagittal spinal posture of adult women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight adult women volunteers (mean age of 44.23 ± 8.87 years) from a private fruit and vegetable company were randomly assigned to experimental (n=27) or control (n=31) groups. The experimental group performed three exercises of hamstrings stretching of 20 seconds per exercise, three sessions a week for a period of 12 weeks. The control group did not participate in any hamstring stretching program. Hamstring flexibility was evaluated through the passive straight leg raise test and toe-touch test, performed both before and after the stretching program. Thoracic and lumbar curvatures and pelvic inclination were measured in relaxed standing and toe-touch test with a Spinal Mouse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases (p < 0.01) in toe-touch score and straight leg raise angle (in both legs) were found in the experimental group during post-test, while the control group showed a non-significant decrease for both toe-touch score and straight leg raise test. A significant decrease in thoracic curve and significant increase in pelvic inclination were found in the toe-touch test for the experimental group (p <0.05). However, no significant changes were found in standing posture for any group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hamstring stretching exercises performed in the working place are effective for increasing hamstring muscle extensibility. This increase generates a more aligned thoracic curve and more anterior pelvic inclination when maximal trunk flexion is performed.
authors.affiliation: Expresion Corporal Area, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Muyor
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: López-Miñarro
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Casimiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D017132:Workplace