Active Release Technique Verses Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients Having Specific Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT07118787

Last Updated: 2026-01-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-11-20
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-25

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Active Release Technique (ART) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is more effective in improving hamstring flexibility in adults with specific low back pain. It will also look at how these treatments affect pain and movement.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does ART or PNF improve hamstring flexibility more in people with specific low back pain?

Do participants report reduced pain and better movement after receiving either treatment?

Researchers will compare the effects of ART and PNF to see which method works better for improving flexibility and reducing pain.

Participants will:

Receive either ART or PNF therapy for 2 weeks

Attend regular physiotherapy sessions during the treatment period

Be assessed before and after treatment for hamstring flexibility and pain levels

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of Active Release Technique (ART) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in improving hamstring flexibility among individuals with specific low back pain. Reduced hamstring flexibility is a common contributing factor in low back dysfunction, and identifying the most effective manual therapy technique can guide more targeted physical therapy interventions.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either ART or PNF over a 2-week intervention period. Both groups received treatment administered by trained physiotherapists using standardized protocols. ART focused on applying specific manual pressure to soft tissues while moving the muscle through its range of motion, while PNF employed contract-relax stretching techniques to promote muscle lengthening and neuromuscular facilitation.

Participants were evaluated at baseline and after the completion of the intervention for changes in hamstring flexibility, with secondary observations on pain reduction and functional improvement. The study adhered to ethical standards, and all participants provided informed consent prior to participation.

The trial contributes to evidence-based physiotherapy by offering comparative insight into two widely used manual techniques in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

active release technique

This group receives Active Release Technique applied on the hamstring muscle group to improve flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active Release Technique

Intervention Type: OTHER

A manual therapy technique applied to release soft tissue tension in the hamstrings.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

This group receives PNF stretching for the hamstring to enhance flexibility in patients with specific low back pain. Sessions are given at baseline then at 2nd and at 4th week after the last Session

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Intervention Type: OTHER

A stretching technique involving passive stretching and isometric contractions of the hamstrings.

Interventions

Active Release Technique

A manual therapy technique applied to release soft tissue tension in the hamstrings.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

A stretching technique involving passive stretching and isometric contractions of the hamstrings.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients having chronic low backache having hamstring tightness referred from orthopedic department

2. Patients having lumber disc budge, spinal spondylosis

3. Age group 25-40 years, having pain more than 3 months

4. Minimum 20-degree restriction in SLR unilaterally Both male and female

Exclusion Criteria

1. Any history of injury in lower extremities in past 3 months

2. Knee osteoarthritis patients, knee deformities, discitis, osteomyelitis

3. Patients with injury of back, constant or severe persistent pain, inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal infection lumber spondylolisthesis, and lumber spondylolysis.

4. Any pregnancy, history of previous surgery or fracture and history of radiculopathy or neuropathic pain.

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• Minimum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Lahore

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Montiha Azeem, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Lahore

Locations

Lahore Poly Clinic, social security hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

REC-UOL-/103-04/2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id