The hamstring muscle is known as a potential factor that accounts for the co-ordination of the lumbar spine with the pelvis & lower extremities. The hamstring muscle consists of three long muscles from medial to lateral that move together move the hip joint & knee joint that is semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris. The hamstring muscle is a multiple-joint muscle frequently damaged due to tightness1. The increase in sedentary lifestyles has resulted in the development of hamstring tightness in adults.
Flexibility is considered an essential element of the normal biomechanical function of the body. Flexibility has been known as the ability of a muscle to lengthen and allow one joint to move through the range of motion2,3. The decrease in flexibility causes damage to the musculoskeletal system due to overuse. The decrease in the flexibility has been causing the neuro-musculoskeletal symptoms that has been to decrease in strength, stability, endurance, and much more. The muscle tightness is caused by decreased ability of the muscle to deform and results in a decreased range of motion at the joint on which it acts.
The decrease in hamstring flexibility is a risk factor for the development of patella tendinopathy and patellofemoral pain, hamstring injury, and symptom of muscle damage following eccentric exercises4,5. The hamstring tightness is associated with the posterior rotation of the pelvis in the standing position due to the attachment of the hamstring muscle on the ischial tuberosity. The tightness in the hamstring muscle causes the posterior pelvic tilt which leads to a decrease in the lumbar lordosis resulting in the low back pain6. It is found to be that the prevalence of hamstring tightness is highly common among college-going students. The muscle length, hamstring strength, strength ratio, demographic characteristics, history of previous injury, lack of flexibility, muscular control, & inadequate warm-up are some of the common causes of hamstring strain7.
The college going mainly attain the position most of the time is sitting position. The prolonged sitting hours can affect the flexibility of soft tissues, especially two joint muscles. In prolonged sitting, a constantly shortened position develops hamstring trigger points and causes muscle tightness8. Hamstring tightness may be measured using the active unilateral SLR test9, the passive unilateral SLR test10, the sit and reach test11, and the active knee extension test (AKET)12. The AKET measures the hamstring tightness by the angle join by the knee flexion after a maximum active knee extension, with the hip maintain at an angle of 90 degrees. Hamstring muscle tightness is defined as Knee Extension Angle (KEA) greater than 20 degrees where KEA is the degree of knee flexion from terminal knee extension13.
The study aimed to find the difference between hamstring tightness in physically active and inactive college-going students. This study was conducted due to the lack of literature on the difference between hamstring tightness in physically active and inactive college-going students.