title: Immediate effects of hamstring stretching alone or combined with ischemic compression of the masseter muscle on hamstrings extensibility, active mouth opening and pain in athletes with temporomandibular dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the immediate effects of hamstrings stretching alone or combined with ischemic compression of the masseter muscle on hamstrings extensibility, active mouth opening and pain in athletes with temporomandibular dysfunction and hamstrings shortening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two participants were randomized to receive the stretching technique (n = 21) or the stretching plus the ischemic compression (n = 21). Outcome measures were: hamstrings extensibility, active mouth opening, pressure pain thresholds and pain intensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both interventions improved significantly active mouth opening (group 1: 35.7 ± 6.7 to 39.1 ± 7.6 mm, p < 0.001; group 2: 34.0 ± 6.2 to 37.6 ± 5.6 mm, p < 0.001), active knee extension (group 1: 33.1 ± 8.5 to 40.8 ± 8.2°, p < 0.001; group 2: 28.9 ± 6.5 to 35.5 ± 6.4°, p < 0.001) and pain. No significant differences were found between interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hamstrings stretching induced an acute improvement in hamstrings extensibility, active mouth opening and pain. Moreover, the addition of ischemic compression did not induce further improvements on the assessed parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Medicine Faculty, Extremadura University, Badajoz, Spain. Electronic address: luisea@unex.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espejo-Antúnez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Medicine Faculty, Extremadura University, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro-Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, and CINTESIS.UA, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albornoz-Cabello
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, and CINTESIS.UA, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical-Surgical Therapy, Medicine Faculty, Extremadura University, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mansilla
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D059408:Pain Management; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Active mouth opening; Hamstrings; Masseter; Stretching; Temporomandibular joint