Mulligan & PNF Techniques for Muscle Tightness

Hamstring tightness is commonly seen in both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Mulligan bent leg raise technique increases the hamstring flexibility by contract relax cycles applied to hamstring in hip flexion. It provides peripheral somatic input by way of contracting muscles and the cutaneous contact of the therapist. Changes in alpha and gamma motor neuron activity (influencing the hamstring muscle) at segmental level are likely following this technique, similar to those effects observed following the implementation of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation ( PNF) techniques when stretching muscle. The present study focused on student population in the age group of 15-18 years as they have posture of sitting with hip and knee flexion at 900 predisposing them to hamstring tightness. Also scarce data is available on the immediate effect of stretching of any type after short bout which if proven can be of highest significance to this population. Therefore we focused on evaluating students with bilateral hamstring tightness and analyze the effects of PNF stretching and BLR on hamstring tightness.