EFFECTS OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE LEG PULL AND SAGITTAL PLANE ISOMETRIC CONTRACT-RELAX TECHNIQUES ON PASSIVE STRAIGHT-LEG RAISE ANGLE

Experimental evidence does not currently exist to support the claims o f clinical effectiveness for myofascial release techniques. This prese nts an obvious need to document the effects of myofascial release. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two techniques, s agittal plan isometric contract-relax and myofascial release leg pull for increasing hip flexion range of motion (ROM) as measured by the an gle of passive straight-leg raise. Seventy-five nondisabled, female su bjects 18-29 years of age were randomly assigned to contract-relax, le g pull, or control groups. Pretest hip flexion ROM was measured for ea ch subject's right hip with a passive straight-leg raise test using a fluid-filled goniometer. Subjects in the treatment groups received eit her contract-relax or leg pull treatment applied to the right lower ex tremity; subjects in the control group remained supine quietly for 5 m inutes. Following treatment, posttest straight-leg raise measurements were performed. A one-way analysis of variance followed by a Newman-Ke uls post hoc comparison of mean gain scores showed that subjects recei ving contract-relax treatment increased their ROM significantly more t han those who received leg pull treatment, and the increase in ROM of subjects in both treatment groups was significantly higher than those of the control group. The results suggest that while both contract-rel ax and leg pull techniques can significantly increase hip flexion ROM in normal subjects, contract-relax treatment may be more effective and efficient than leg pull treatment.