title: Effect of Ankle Positioning During Hamstring Stretches for Improving Straight Leg Hip Flexion Motion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of stretching the hamstrings with the ankle in either a plantar-flexed (PF) or dorsiflexed (DF) position for improving straight leg hip flexion range of motion (ROM) over a 4-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, single-blinded, pretest, posttest design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletic training facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each limb of 34 asymptomatic individuals (15 males, 19 females) was randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups. Twenty-four limbs received hamstring stretches with the ankle in DF, 24 limbs received hamstring stretches with the ankle in PF, and 20 limbs received no stretch (control).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ankle position (PF, DF) during hamstring stretching.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured pretest and posttest passive straight leg hip flexion ROM with the test ankle in a neutral position. For the intervention groups, the test limb was passively stretched with the ankle held in end range DF or PF for their respective group. Each stretch was held for 30 seconds for a total of 3 applications. Two treatment sessions were completed per week for a total of 4 weeks. The control limbs received no stretching during the 4-week period. We conducted 1-way analyses of covariance to determine significant changes in ROM between groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between treatment groups (P = 0.90), but a significant difference was found for both the PF (P = 0.04) and DF (P = 0.01) groups when compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that both stretching the hamstrings in either PF or DF improve straight leg hip ROM compared with a control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study should be considered by clinicians when determining the optimal stretching techniques aimed at increasing hamstring length.
authors.affiliation: *School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois; and †Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan.
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Laudner
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: Noelle M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Selkow
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055815:Young Adult