The Effect of Hamstring Stretching on Lumbar Muscle Activation in Officers

Summary

Prolonged periods of desk work and static postures in office workers lead to various musculoskeletal issues in both the lower and upper extremities. One such issue is hamstring muscle tightness observed in individuals. Tight hamstring muscles contribute to increased electromyographic muscle activity in the lumbar region, altered lumbopelvic rhythm, and changes in lumbar stabilization, leading to low back pain. The viscoelastic properties of the hamstring muscles play a crucial role in maintaining posture and stabilizing the lumbar region. Insufficient hamstring flexibility or viscoelastic properties can alter pelvic position and result in excessive stress in the lumbar region, thereby increasing the risk of low back pain.

It is anticipated that the activation, stabilization, and viscoelasticity of the muscles in the lumbar region will change through static active hamstring stretching exercises, which aim to restore the length-tension relationship in the hamstring muscles. This study aims to investigate the effect of active static hamstring stretching exercises on lumbar muscle activation, stabilization, and viscoelasticity in office workers.

Conditions

• Office Workers
• Muscle Tightness
• Lumbar Region
• Muscle Shortness
• Stretch
• Hamstring Flexibility

Interventions

OTHER

Active Static Hamstring Stretch Exercise

In the first session, participants will be instructed on the principles of spinal protection. Following this, members of the experimental group will engage in active hamstring exercises within the office environment. These exercises will be conducted for 10 minutes, consisting of 10 repetitions of 30-40 seconds of stretching followed by 30 seconds of rest, five days a week for six weeks. Participants in the experimental group will be remotely supervised during the stretching exercises.

OTHER

Waiting List

Participants will receive workplace training on spine protection principles and subsequently be placed on a waiting list. Throughout this process, individuals in the designated group will receive text messages on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays over the course of six weeks. These messages will contain information aimed at assisting them in maintaining correct posture throughout the workday.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ayse Zengin Alpözgen, Assoc. Prof. · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-30

Primary Completion

2024-12-25

Completion

2025-01-10

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations