ABSTRACT

Background: Hamstrings muscles are large, long muscle located on back of the thigh which acts upon two joints, the hip and knee. The functions of the hamstring muscles are knee flexion and hip extension. Lack of hamstring flexibility and strength is the most important characteristic of hamstring injuries in athlete’s. Purpose of this study was to investigate compare the effectiveness of Muscle Energy techniques and eccentric training to improve Hamstring muscle performance and flexibility tightness in college male athletes.

Methods: sixty subjects with age group 18-25 were recruited in this study.The subjects were divided into two groups Group A (Experimental1) and Group B (Experimental2). Group A underwent muscle energy technique and Conventional treatment, Group B underwent eccentric training and Conventional treatment. Interventions were conducted over a period of 5 days. All subjects were assessed for pain flexibility using hand active knee extension test and performance using single leg hop test before and after intervention period.

Results: The data was analyzed through paired test for comparing pre and posttest values of the active knee extension and single leg hop within both group and Independent t test for comparison of data between the two groups. Results of this study show that Muscle Energy techniques and eccentric training improves Hamstring muscle flexibility and performance in college male athlete’s.

Conclusion: Muscle energy technique is more effective than eccentric training in improving hamstring muscle tightness and performance in college male athletes.

 Keywords: Muscle Energy Techniques, Eccentric training, Active knee extension test, Single hope length test