Comparison of the Effect of TECAR Therapy and Static Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility in Male Athletes

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The hamstring muscle is one of the muscles with a high risk of injury due to loss of flexibility. Using deep heat modalities is one way to improve muscle flexibility. Given that TECAR therapy is a new way to produce heat in deep tissues, the present study was conducted to compare the short-term effects of TECAR therapy and static stretching on hamstring flexibility in athletes. METHODS: This single-blinded randomized clinical trial was performed on 20 male athletes. Samples were randomly divided into two groups of TECAR therapy with static stretching (n=10) and static stretching (n=10) and were treated for three sessions. Active knee extension (AKE) test, passive knee extension (PKE) test, and sit and reach test were performed before treatment, after the first session and after the third session. FINDINGS: The mean values of active knee extension and passive knee extension (degree) and mean values of sit and reach test (cm) after the third session in the TECAR therapy group were 72.10±1.59 and 71±1.49 and 35.20±2.39, respectively, and in the static stretching group were 70.70±1.49, 69.70±1.05 and 34.80±1.61, respectively. The results of this study showed that in both groups, the range of active knee extension (p<0.0001), the range of passive knee extension (p=0.004), and the range of motion in sit and reach test (p=0.004) improved significantly after the first and third sessions. The improvement of all three flexibility indices in the TECAR therapy group was higher than static stretching, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that TECAR therapy with static stretching causes a greater increase in hamstring flexibility than static stretching alone.

Keywords

• tecar therapy
• stretching
• static stretching
• hamstring muscle
• flexibility.