Yonsei Med J.  2017 May;58(3):644-649. 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.644.

Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study

• Kim YW
• Chang WH
• Kim NY
• Kwon JB
• Lee SC

• KMID: 2419125
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2017.58.3.644

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for healthy participants with hamstring tightness.
MATERIALS AND 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).
CONCLUSION
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.

Keyword

ESWT; stretching; hamstring tightness; spasticity

MeSH Terms

Adult
Female
Hamstring Muscles/*physiopathology
Healthy Volunteers
High-Energy Shock Waves/*therapeutic use
Humans
Leg
Male
Muscle Spasticity/etiology/*therapy
*Muscle, Skeletal
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Pilot Projects

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flowchart of the study. ESWT, extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

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  Fig. 2 Changes in assessments in each group. (A) Finger-to-floor test, (B) Right popliteal angle. *p<0.05, post-treatment vs. baseline. ESWT, extracorporeal shock wave therapy; T1, immediately after treatments; T2, at 4 weeks after treatments.

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