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The Effect of Hamstring Muscle Stretching on Standing Posture and on Lumbar and Hip Motions During Forward Bending

Y Li, PT, is Physical Therapist, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China. She was a student in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, when this study was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for her Master of Science degree.
PW McClure, PT, OCS, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University, MS 502, Broad and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (USA) (mcclurep@hal.hahnemann.edu).
N Pratt, PhD, PT, is Professor, Departments of Physical Therapy and Anatomy, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University, and Director, Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Program, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University.

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine whether stretching the hamstring muscles affects extensibility, as indicated by straight leg raising (SLR), lumbopelvic posture, and the relative amounts of lumbar and hip motion during forward bending. Subjects. Thirty-nine subjects without known musculoskeletal impairments of their spine or lower extremities and with tight hamstring muscles (ie, SLR of 70°) were randomly assigned to either a stretching group or a control group. Methods. A three-dimensional digitizer was used to measure lumbar, pelvic, and hip positions while subjects were in a standing position and during partial and full forward bending. Results. Straight leg raising and hip motion during late and total forward bending were increased after stretching. No changes occurred in standing posture or lumbar motion during forward bending. Conclusion and Discussion. The results of this study suggest that there is no relationship between hamstring muscle length and lumbopelvic posture. There was some indication, however, that stretching the hamstring muscles may affect motion during forward bending.

Key Words: Hamstring muscle • Hip motion • Kinesiology/biomechanics, lower extremity • Lumbar motion • Posture • Stretching

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