title: Effects of a neurodynamic sliding technique on hamstring flexibility in healthy male soccer players. A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the short-term effects of a neurodynamic sliding technique versus control condition on hamstring flexibility in healthy, asymptomatic male soccer players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight young male soccer players from Palencia, Spain (mean age 20.7 yrs ± 1.0, range 19-22) with decreased hamstring muscle flexibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: neurodynamic sliding intervention or no intervention control. Each subject's dominant leg was measured for straight leg raise (SLR) range of motion (ROM) pre- and post-intervention. Subjects received interventions as per group allocation over a 1 week period. Data were analyzed with a 2 (intervention: neurodynamic and control) × 2 (time: pre and post) factorial ANOVA with repeated measures and appropriate post-hoc analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant interaction was observed between intervention and time for hamstring extensibility, F(1,26) = 159.187, p < .0005. There was no difference between the groups at the start, p = .743; however, at the end of the study, the groups were significantly different with more range of motion in the group that received neurodynamic interventions, p = .001. The group that received neurodynamic interventions improved significantly over time (p < .001), whereas the control group did not (p = .684).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that a neurodynamic sliding technique can increase hamstring flexibility in healthy, male soccer players.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Castellote-Caballero
authors.forename: Marie Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valenza
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martín-Martín
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Martos
authors.forename: Emilio J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Puentedura
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018583:Pliability; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Humans; Muscle; Neurodynamic; Range of motion; Short hamstring syndrome; Skeletal/physiology; Straight leg raise test