Effect of Active and Positional Release on Hamstring Flexibility in Athletes (NCT07167602) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Effect of Active and Positional Release on Hamstring Flexibility in Athletes
Pakistan74 participantsStarted 2025-07-01
Plain-language summary
Hamstring shortening is common in athletes and often causes pain, limited flexibility, and reduced function, which negatively impact performance. Manual therapy techniques such as Active Release Therapy (ART) and Positional Release Therapy (PRT) are frequently used, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear.
This randomized, single-blinded clinical trial enrolled 74 athletes aged 18-35 years with hamstring shortening at the University of Lahore. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either PRT with conventional physiotherapy (hot pack, TENS, stretching, ankle pumps) or ART with the same physiotherapy protocol. Each group received two supervised sessions per week for four weeks.
The primary outcomes were pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), range of motion (Popliteal Angle), and functional ability (Lower Extremity Functional Scale). The Active Knee Extension test was used as a secondary outcome.
This study seeks to determine which manual therapy approach provides greater improvements in pain, flexibility, and function, with the goal of guiding evidence-based rehabilitation for athletes.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 35 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Participants with age between 18 to 35
* Both genders
* Athletes with BMI between 18.5 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m².
* Basketball, Football And Badminton Players.
* Athletes who practices atleast 3 days per week.
* Participants with Numeric pain rating scale values \> 4.
* Participants with unilateral tightness of hamstring muscle with SLR \< 80° and AKE \< 125°
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participants with any acute chronic hamstring strain or lower back pain.
* Participants with leg length discrepancy.
* Participants with a sedentary lifestyle.
* Participants with upper motor neuron or lower motor neuron lesion.
* Participants with any previous history of lower extremity injury in the past three months
* Participants who are not willing to sign the consent
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Hamstring flexibility (Popliteal Angle test)
Timeframe: Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention
2
Pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS)
Timeframe: Baseline and 4 weeks (end of intervention)
3
Lower extremity function (Lower Extremity Functional Scale, LEFS)
Timeframe: Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention