Active Release Technique Verses Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients Having Specific Low Back Pain

NCT07118787 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: REC-UOL-/103-04/2022
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Active Release Technique (ART) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is more effective in improving hamstring flexibility in adults with specific low back pain. It will also look at how these treatments affect pain and movement. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ART or PNF improve hamstring flexibility more in people with specific low back pain? Do participants report reduced pain and better movement after receiving either treatment? Researchers will compare the effects of ART and PNF to see which method works better for improving flexibility and reducing pain. Participants will: Receive either ART or PNF therapy for 2 weeks Attend regular physiotherapy sessions during the treatment period Be assessed before and after treatment for hamstring flexibility and pain levels

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Keywords

active release technique; low back pain; muscle stretching

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Hamstring Flexibility (measured by Passive Straight Leg Raise Test)

  Flexibility of the hamstring muscle will be measured using a goniometer during the Passive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test.

  at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Pain Intensity (measured by Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS)

  at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Study Arms (2)

active release technique

EXPERIMENTAL

This group receives Active Release Technique applied on the hamstring muscle group to improve flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Other: Active Release Technique

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group receives PNF stretching for the hamstring to enhance flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Interventions

Active Release Technique OTHER

A manual therapy technique applied to release soft tissue tension in the hamstrings.

active release technique

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation OTHER

A stretching technique involving passive stretching and isometric contractions of the hamstrings.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients having chronic low backache having hamstring tightness referred from orthopedic department
• Patients having lumber disc budge, spinal spondylosis
• Age group 25-40 years, having pain more than 3 months
• Minimum 20-degree restriction in SLR unilaterally Both male and female

You may not qualify if:

• Any history of injury in lower extremities in past 3 months
• Knee osteoarthritis patients, knee deformities, discitis, osteomyelitis
• Patients with injury of back, constant or severe persistent pain, inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal infection lumber spondylolisthesis, and lumber spondylolysis.
• Any pregnancy, history of previous surgery or fracture and history of radiculopathy or neuropathic pain.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lahore Poly Clinic, social security hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Montiha Azeem, DPT

  University of Lahore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The participants were randomly assigned in to two groups i.e. Group A and Group B by sealed envelope method.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: After screening the population based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants were included in the study. Participants signed a consent form regarding their willingness to participate in the study. The participants were divided equally into two groups where group one was evaluated for active release technique and group two was evaluated according to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique. The measurements were taken at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session. There were total 20 sessions, 5 sessions in a week for 4 weeks

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2025
• First Posted: August 12, 2025
• Study Start: November 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2025
• Study Completion: December 25, 2025
• Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-05

Locations

PA (1)