Dynamic Stretching vs. Foam Rolling: Effects on Hamstring Flexibility and Muscle Oxygenation in Tight Hamstrings

NCT07024017 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: YYLT-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 39
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Hamstring muscle flexibility plays a vital role in functional movement and in the prevention of injuries. Reduced flexibility of the hamstring muscles is common and can lead to biomechanical dysfunctions, a limited range of motion, and poor posture. Interventions such as stretching exercises and myofascial release techniques are widely used to improve muscle flexibility. Dynamic stretching, which involves active muscle movements, has been shown to significantly enhance flexibility and may be more effective than static stretching. The use of a foam roller, which is a self-applied myofascial release technique, also improves flexibility and may offer additional benefits by increasing fascial mobility without impairing muscle strength. Peripheral muscle oxygenation reflects a muscle's ability to utilize oxygen and is increasingly used to assess physical performance and fatigue. Although some studies suggest that stretching exercises and foam roller applications may improve peripheral muscle oxygenation, the evidence remains limited. This study aimed to compare the effects of a single session of isolated dynamic stretching and foam roller application on hamstring muscle flexibility and muscle oxygenation. The hypothesis proposed that dynamic stretching would be more effective than foam roller application in enhancing muscle oxygenation, while both interventions would similarly improve muscle flexibility.

Conditions

Hamstring Contractures; Muscle Relaxation; Muscle Tightness

Keywords

myofascial release; moxy; active knee extansion test; warm-up; Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Muscle Oxygenation Assessment

  Muscle oxygenation will be assessed using the MOXY Monitor, which is a portable, wireless device based on near-infrared spectroscopy. The monitor will be placed on the belly of the right biceps femoris muscle and secured with an opaque elastic band to prevent interference from ambient light. Measurements will be taken five minutes before and five minutes after the intervention session. During each measurement period, the device will record data for sixty seconds, and the average muscle oxygen saturation value over this period will be used for analysis.

  baseline, immediately after the intervention, ten minutes after the baseline

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test

  baseline, immediately after the intervention, ten minutes after the baseline

Study Arms (3)

Foam Roller

EXPERIMENTAL

For the foam rolling intervention, participants were positioned in an upright seated posture with the foam roller placed under the right thigh. The right leg remained extended, while the left leg was crossed over the right knee for added stability. The foam rolling movement began at the area behind the knee and progressed slowly toward the ischial tuberosity, then returned to the starting point in a continuous back-and-forth rolling pattern.

Device: Foam roller

Dynamic Strecth

EXPERIMENTAL

The dynamic stretching protocol consisted of 10 different exercises performed over a total duration of 10 minutes at moderate to high intensity.

Other: dynamic stretch

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will not receive any intervention and will rest for the same duration.

Interventions

Foam roller DEVICE

FR will be applied to each hamstring muscle for 3 minutes per leg, totaling 6 minutes. The pressure was self-regulated by participants, who are instructed to apply as much body weight as tolerable. The rolling frequency is maintained at approximately 0.5 Hz, corresponding to one complete rolling cycle every 2 seconds. Before the intervention, participants will receive verbal and visual instructions to ensure correct execution.

Foam Roller

dynamic stretch OTHER

10 different exercises will be performed over a 13-meter distance, with a 10-second rest period between exercises. During the session, participants will receive verbal feedback to ensure proper posture and technique. Exercises will be video recorded and shared with participants for review and consistency.

Dynamic Strecth

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy individuals aged between 18 and 35 years
• Both male and female participants
• Absence of any known health conditions
• Hamstring tightness defined as ≥20° of knee flexion angle in Active Knee Extension test

You may not qualify if:

• Any neuromuscular or orthopedic disorders affecting the lower extremities
• Circulatory or vascular problems
• Respiratory or cardiovascular diseases
• Renal failure
• Presence of pain during measurements or exercise protocols
• Excessive skin sensitivity or active skin infection
• History of intense physical activity within the last 48 hours

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pelin Pişirici: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bahcesehir University

Istanbul, Beşiktaş, 34353, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Yusuf Akgöl, PT

  Bahcesehir University, Graduate Education Institute, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Master of Science Program

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Pelin Pişirici, PT, PhD

  Bahcesehir University, Faculty of Health Sciences

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Assessor will be blind to the groups.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor, PT, PhD

Model Details: Participants with hamstring tightness will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a foam rolling group, a dynamic stretching group, or a control group. Before the intervention, baseline assessments will include measurements of muscle oxygenation and the Active Knee Extension test to determine initial hamstring flexibility. After the pre-intervention evaluation, participants in the dynamic stretching group will perform a standardized series of dynamic stretching exercises, while those in the foam rolling group will apply self-administered myofascial release using a foam roller. The control group will not receive any intervention but will rest for the same duration to ensure consistency in time allocation. Post-intervention assessments, including measurements of muscle oxygenation and the Active Knee Extension test, will be conducted immediately after the intervention and again ten minutes later to evaluate both the immediate and short-term effects.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2025
• First Posted: June 17, 2025
• Study Start: April 29, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 7, 2025
• Study Completion: May 7, 2025
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

TU (1)