Rl. Gajdosik et al., INFLUENCE OF HAMSTRING LENGTH ON THE STANDING POSITION AND FLEXION RANGE OF MOTION OF THE PELVIC ANGLE, LUMBAR ANGLE, AND THORACIC ANGLE, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 20(4), 1994, pp. 213-219
Hamstring muscle length may be associated with specific pelvic and tru
nk postures, but the influence of hamstring length on trunk postures i
s not well documented. The purposes of this study were to examine the
influence of hamstring length on 1) the pelvic angle, lumbar angle, an
d thoracic angle in standing; and 2) the flexion ranges of motion of t
he pelvic angle, lumbar angle, and thoracic angle during the toe-touch
test. Surface platform pointers over bony landmarks and photography w
ere used to examine the pelvic and trunk angles and ranges of motion o
f 10 men with short hamstrings, 10 men with medium hamstrings, and 10
men with long hamstrings while standing and after assuming the toe-tou
ch position. Separate one-way analyses of variance detected no signifi
cant differences among groups for the three angles in standing. Signif
icant differences were detected among groups for the three angles in t
he toe-touch position and the flexion ranges of motion during the toe-
touch test (p < 0.05). Short hamstrings were associated with decreased
flexion range of motion of the pelvic angle and lumbar angle and incr
eased flexion range of motion of the thoracic angle. Therapeutic inter
ventions should be considered in light of the influences of hamstring
length on the flexion range of motion of the pelvic angle, lumbar angl
e, and thoracic angle.