The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Training on Hamstring Muscles Flexibility and Agility

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed at investigating the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training using HR procedure on hamstring muscles flexibility and agility in male students. A number of 60 male students of physical education and sports sciences studying at Islamic Azad university of Ali Abad Katoul were selected as the participants and subsequently assigned into an experimental (N=30) and a control group (N=30) using random sampling procedure. The participantsʹ anthropometric characteristics included: age (22.41±6.18 years), weight (65.84±12.34 kg), and height (167.42±7.42 cm). The experimental group participated in a pretest followed by 4 weeks of participation in the training protocol and ended in a post-test. The control group also did the pretest and post-post test but did not receive training. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was run to assure the normality of data. Besides, independent t test was used to examine the homogeneity of data (P?0.05). Dependent samples t test was also run to examine the research hypotheses (P?0.05). The results showed a significant difference between the pretest and post-test results of hamstring muscles flexibility and agility in the experimental group. Accordingly, it seems that four weeks (12 sessions) of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretch training using HR procedure may improve hamstring muscles flexibility and agility in athletes.