Effect of Static Stretch and Massage on Hamstring Flexibility of Badminton Players a Th. Nandalal Singh, b Mohammad Sarraf Razavi a Department of Physical Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India b Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India Abstract This study is to investigate the effect of stretch and massage on the range of motion of knee or hamstring flexibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of both treatments separately, their comparison and during treatment period of 12 weeks. Static stretch and four kinds of massage including stroking, percussion, effleurage and kneading were carried out on 45 male badminton players in the age of 13 to 19 years. An experimental control group design was selected for this study. The subjects, whose left leg hamstring flexibility was less than 70 degree, were randomly divided into three of 15 each. Two experimental of Static Stretch (Group -A), Massage (Group-B) and control group. The training sessions were conducted thrice a week. Measurement of hamstring flexibility was taken before and after an experimental period of twelve weeks by AKET (Active Knee Extension Test). ANOVA was applied among different training i.e., static stretch, massage and control group of male badminton players on hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion). To find out the paired mean differences where F-test is significant the Scheffe s Post-Hoc test was employed. There was no significant difference between massage treatment and static stretch treatment on hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion) of male badminton players. KEYWORDS: Stretch, Massage, hamstring flexibility, active knee range of motion and AKET (Active Knee Extension Test) INTRODUCTION Badminton is one of the most widely-played sports in the world. In India, badminton is one of the most popular sports, apart from cricket. 30.9% of patients in Badminton suffer from Strain which is the result of muscular-fiber tears due to overstretching that can be decreased by increasing the flexibility of muscles. Decreased knee range of motion (hamstring flexibility) is suggested to be one of the predisposing factors for hamstring strains. The studies show that the athletes with reduced range of motion are more susceptible to muscle injury than their more flexible counterparts. Besides professional exercises, flexibility plays an important role in general health. To enhance flexibility physiotherapist and expert people have different methods of which stretch exercises are one of them which is prescribed for pains in the lower part of spinal cord. Chan et al. (2001) did a research on flexibility and passive resistance of the hamstring of young adults using two different static stretching protocols. A significant increase in flexibility w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 224
of hamstrings was found in both of the two training (p<0.05). Those subjects receiving the foam and stretch treatment had the greatest increase in hip ROM (P <.05). Those subjects receiving the stretch only, foam and stretch, and foam only had greater hip ROM values than controls (P <.05). Davis et al. (2005) studied on the effectiveness of 3 stretching techniques on hamstring flexibility using consistent stretching parameters; and they compared the effects of 3 common stretching techniques on the length of the hamstring muscle group during a 4-week training program. Statistical analysis (p <= 0.05) revealed a significant interaction of stretching technique and duration of stretch. Kelleher and Amanda (2003) did a research on the delayed effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and static stretching on hamstring flexibility to determine the delayed effects of stretching, both static and PNF, on hamstring flexibility following exercise. Another method which experts suggest to be used for flexibility is applying massage to break the vicious cycle that causes muscle spasm, and consequently, muscle pain. Muscle spasm causes muscle pain directly by stimulating mechano-sensitive pain receptors or indirectly by compressing the blood vessels resulting in ischemia (Guyton & Hall, 2000). The large proportion of massage application in sports events is due to many coaches and athletes holding the belief, based on observations and experiences, that massage can provide several benefits to the body such as increased blood flow, reduced muscle tension and neurological excitability, and an increased sense of well-being. There is limited scientific evidence, however, to support the use of massage for enhancing performance, enhancing recovery from injury, or for preventing muscular injury. Jones and Valerie (2004) did a study to determine whether sports massage is more effective than static stretching in preparing an athlete for maximum performance and they found a significant increase in range of motion after both the static stretch and sports massage treatments. METHOD AND PROCEDURE The objective of the study was to find out the effect of static stretch and massage on hamstring range of motion of knee (flexibility). Pre-test, post-test experimental design was used to find out the effect of static stretch and massage on the subjects. An experimental control group design was selected for this study in which forty five subjects whose their left leg hamstring flexibility were less than 70 degree were selected by AKET (active knee extension test) for the sample of this study. Subjects were divided into three of 15 each, two served as experimental and one as control group. The subjects were randomly selected from Panjab University, Chandigarh and Sports Complex, Sector 42, Chandigarh. Pre-test was conducted on three to know the level of hamstring range of motion of knee (flexibility). Post-tests were done on both after 12 weeks of treatment. The massage group (experimental group) got massage treatments on their hamstring muscle 25 minutes and it was a compound massage including Stroking, Effleurage, Kneading and Percussion on left leg of each subject which was carried out on each subject separately by the researcher. The static group (experimental group) got stretching treatments on their hamstring muscle for 9 times that was sustained for 30 seconds and the recovery time between stretches was 60 seconds. The researcher controlled the time by Chronometer and informed the subject while stretching. In addition to that the researcher observed the subject to keep his knee straight while stretching. Stretch and Massage were not done on control group. Subjects w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 225
of control group did only 5 minutes warm up which was jogging. In order to find out the differential effects of the two treatment (Static Stretch Group and Massage Group) and one control group, analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was computed with the help of SPSS computer software. RESULTS Figure-1: Active Hamstring Knee Extension Test (AKET) The data was analyzed by employing descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The level of significance was set at 0.05. Descriptive analysis of hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion) of left leg in control group of male badminton players is presented in table-1. Table-1 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF PRE TEST AND POST TEST MEAN VALUE (CONTROL GROUP) Variable N Mean SD Min Max ROM Control Pre-Test 15 50 14.65 27 68 Post-Test 15 53 13.84 33 72 Table 1 clearly shows that the mean value of pre-test (initial) was 50 & SD was14.65 and the post-test (final) mean was 53 and SD was 13.84. Descriptive analysis of hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion) of left leg in experimental group of male badminton players is presented in table-2. Table-2 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF PRE TEST AND POST TEST MEAN VALUE (EXPERIMENTAL MASSAGE GROUP) Variable N Mean SD Min Max ROM Pre-Test 15 51 12.9 28 70 Massage Post-Test 15 63 12.3 37 82 w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 226
Table 2 clearly shows that the mean value of pre-test (initial) was 51 & SD was12.9 and the post-test (final) mean was 63 and SD was 12.3 which clearly shows that the Range of Motion mean has increased. Table-3 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF PRE TEST AND POST TEST MEAN VALUE (EXPERIMENTAL STRETCHING GROUP) Variable N Mean SD Min Max ROM Pre-Test 15 52 13.07 25 73 Static Stretch Post-Test 15 67 11.39 48 85 Table 3 clearly shows that the mean value of pre-test (initial) was 52 & SD was13.07 and the post-test (final) mean was 67 and SD was 11.39 which clearly shows that the Range of Motion mean has increased. To show the result more clearly figure 2 has been drawn as below: 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 Massage (Pre-Test) Massage (Post-Test) Stretching(pr e-test) Stretching(p ost-test) Control (Pre- Test) Control (Post-Test) Means 51 63 52 67 50 53 Figure: 2 Mean Values of Pre and Post-Test of two Experimental and Control Group The comparison of Knee Range of Motion (hamstring flexibility) between pre-test and post-test scores for experimental and control group among male badminton players is presented in tables 4, 5, and 6 as below: Table 4: ANOVA of Pre-Test on Different Training Groups on Hamstring Flexibility (Active Knee Range of Motion) Sum of df Mean F Sig. Squares Square Pre-test (mean Between 24.84 2 12.422.070.932 score of three ) Within 7447.73 42 177.32 ------ ---- Total 7472.57 44 ---------- ------ ---- w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 227
*Significant at.05 level Table 4.7 points out that there is no significant difference between pre-test mean scores of active range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg among three which are static stretching group, massage experimental group and control group. (P>0.05); therefore there is a uniformity of variance in three in the beginning of the study. Table 5: ANOVA of Post-Test on Different Training Groups on Hamstring Flexibility (Active Knee Range of Motion) Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Pre-test (mean score of three ) *Significant at.05 level Between 1549.91 2 774.95 4.831*.013 Within 6737.33 42 160.41 ------ ---- Total 8287.24 44 ---------- ------ ---- Table 5 points out that there is significant difference between post-test mean scores of active range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg among three which are static stretching group, massage experimental group and control group (P=.013). Table 6 Significant differences between the paired means on hamstring flexibility (active Knee Range of Motion at different training. Groups Massage Group M=63.20 Stretch Group M=67.66 Control Group M=53.6 Massage Group ---------- 4.45 9.06 Stretch Group 4.45 ---------- 14.06 Control Group 9.04 14.06 ---------- *significant at 0.05 level Table 6 indicates that mean scores of post-test of hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion) in static stretching group is significantly (P<0.05) higher than mean scores of post-test of control group. It shows that mean scores of post-test of hamstring flexibility (active knee range of motion) in massage group is significantly (P<0.05) higher than mean scores of post-test of control group. However the mean differences between static stretch and massage when compared to each other were not found significant. DISCUSSION An analysis of the results shows that there was significant difference between mean scores of pre-test and post-test of active knee range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg male badminton players in static stretching and Massage group. The probable reason attributed to the significant differences in the above-mentioned parameters may be w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 228
that the twelve week of static stretch exercise and massage program was sufficient to bring about significant changes in hamstring flexibility. Similar studies have been reported by Kieran et al. (2009). He examined the effect of warm-up, static stretching and dynamic stretching on hamstring flexibility in previously injured subjects. Static stretching also increased hamstring flexibility, whereas dynamic did not, in agreement with previous findings on uninjured controls. Davis et al. (2005) observed on the effectiveness of 3 stretching techniques on hamstring flexibility using consistent stretching parameters; and they compared the effects of 3 common stretching techniques on the length of the hamstring muscle group during a 4-week training program. The findings suggest that a sequence of 5 modified hold-relax stretches produced significantly increased hamstring flexibility that lasted 6 minutes after the stretching protocol ended. For the effect of massage similar studies have been reported by Hopper et al. (2005), Hernandez-Reif et al. (2001), Patrica, Williams, Granner and Norman (2003) in which they showed in their studies that massage has a positive impact on hamstring range of motion. Moreover the study of Repucci and Derek (2004) which was on the effect of massage on passive range of motion of hamstring confirmed the result of this study. CONCLUSION On the basis of the findings of the study, the following conclusions were framed: Mean scores of post-test of active knee range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg in static stretching group is significantly (p<0.05) higher than mean scores of post-test of control group. Mean scores of post-test of active knee range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg in massage group is significantly (p<0.05) higher than mean scores of post-test of control group. There was no significant difference between mean scores of post-test of active knee range of motion (hamstring flexibility) of left leg in static stretching group and massage group. REFERENCES Hopper, S., Hall, K., Briffa. (2005). "Evaluation of the effect of two massage techniques on hamstring muscle length in competitive female hockey players". Physical Therapy in sport 6, 137-145. Hernandez-R, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, j., Theakson, h. (2001). "Lower back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy". International journal of neuroscience, 106,131-145. Jones, H., Valerie, G, F.(2004). Is sports massage a better alternative to static stretching in pre-competition warm-up North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2004 February; 3 (1): 7 21. Patrica, A., Williams, H., Granner, M., Norman, J. (2003). "Effects of massage for older adults". Physical Therapy in sport 6, 137-145. Repucci, D, C. (2004)."The effect of heat, massage, and active exercise on passive range of motion of the gastronomies". M.S., Springfield College (Charles Redmond). (85pp: 1fiche $6.00, PDF $19.25) PE 4603. w w w. o i i r j. o r g I S S N 2 2 7 7-2 4 5 6 Page 229
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