INFLUENCE OF HAMSTRING LENGTH ON THE STANDING POSITION AND FLEXION RANGE OF MOTION OF THE PELVIC ANGLE, LUMBAR ANGLE, AND THORACIC ANGLE

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.