modified hold-relax stretching technique combined with moist heat therapy to improve neuromuscular properties in college students with hamstring tightness

Introduction: this study aims to evaluate the effect of modified hold-relax stretching combined with moist heat therapy on hamstring muscle flexibility, emg activity and strength in college students with hamstring tightness. materials and methods: thirty-eight college students with hamstring tightness were recruited and were divided into two groups. group 1 received modified hold-relax stretching plus moist heat therapy and group 2 received moist heat therapy alone, three days a week for four weeks. the knee range of motion (rom), muscle strength and electromyography (emg) activity before and after the treatment protocol were measured. results: there was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic characteristics. the knee rom was significantly different between groups in terms of time (p=0.001) and group (p=0.005) effects, but the strength and emg activity were not significantly different. conclusion: the modified hold-relax technique combined with moist heat therapy is effective in increasing hamstring flexibility, but has no significant effect on the muscle emg activity and strength.