Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for healthy participants with hamstring tightness.


METHODS
This study was performed at a university rehabilitation hospital. Twenty nine healthy adults with hamstring tightness were enrolled and randomly allocated into four groups (ESWT, stretching exercise, ESWT with stretching exercise, and control). The effects of individual treatments were compared by the finger-to-floor test and popliteal angle.


RESULTS
The ESWT group, stretching exercise group and ESWT with stretching exercise group had decreased finger-to-floor distances and right popliteal angles immediately after intervention, compared with the control group (p<0.05). At 4 weeks after completion of the interventions, finger-to-floor distances and the right popliteal angle in only the ESWT with stretching exercise group showed a significant improvement, compared with the control group (p=0.008 and 0.023).


CONCLUSIONS
While ESWT and stretching both reduced hamstring tightness immediately after interventions, only ESWT with stretching exercise maintained the significantly improved relief of hamstring tightness significantly after 4 weeks.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yong Wook
YW
Kim
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Won Hyuk
WH
Chang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Na Young
NY
Kim
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jun Beom
JB
Kwon
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bettertomo@yuhs.ac.
Sang Chul
SC
Lee
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects
ESWT; hamstring tightness; spasticity; stretching