The acute effect of two different manual relaxation protocols on the range of moti̇on of neck and general body flexibility

This study was planned to assess and compare the acute effects on neck joint range of motion and overall body flexibility in two different groups subjected to various manual relaxation techniques. The study included 50 individuals with hamstring shortness with a mean age of 22.80±4.35 years participated. After demographic information was obtained, neck joint range of motion, shortness measurements of the hamstrings and lumbar extensors, hamstrings and trunk flexibility measurements were recorded. A total of 20 minutes of practice was performed in each group. In the first group, ''suboccipital inhibition'', ''anterior cervical spine cross hand relaxation'' and ''leg pull'' techniques were applied for 5 minutes each. In the second group, ''suboccipital inhibition'' and ''anterior cervical spine cross hand relaxation'' techniques were applied for 10 minutes each. All measurements taken before the application were repeated immediately after the application. All evaluations made before and after were statistically significantly different for both groups (p<0.05). When the groups were compared with each other, statistically significant differences were found only for the goniometric measurement of left lateral flexion, right hamstring flexibility and right trunk rotation flexibility (p<0.05). In conclusion, the myofascial relaxation techniques which are practiced in this study significantly affected neck joint mobility and overall body flexibility acutely. Myofascial relaxation techniques were found to have beneficial effects both at the site of application and on distant structures. KEYWORDS: Myofascial relaxation, fascia, hamstring shortness, flexibility