The effects of stretching with cryotherapy, stretching with heat and stretching alone on hamstring flexibility in physically active females

Abstract

Background/Aims A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted to examine the effects of acute cryotherapy with stretching, heat with stretching, and stretching alone on hamstring flexibility. Methods Thirty female participants were randomly allocated into three groups: stretching with cryotherapy, stretching with heat, or stretching without an intervention. A sit and reach test and the 90/90 active knee extension test were conducted before and after a 20-minute stretching routine to measure hamstring flexibility. Results Differences were observed pre- and post-test in the sit and reach test and knee 90/90 extension tasks (P<0.05) within all three groups. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the three intervention groups. Conclusions Combining stretching with cryotherapy or heat application potentially provides no additional benefit to stretching alone in short-term enhancements to hamstring muscle flexibility in physically active females.