Comparative Effect of Static Stretching and Mulligan Stretching on Hip Adductor Flexibility in Footballers - A Two Group Trial

ABSTRACT

Groin pain due to adductor strain is commonly seen in footballers. Many methods of stretching a muscle likeballistic stretching, static stretching etc are used to increase flexibility of hip adductors and prevent groinstrain. Static hip adductor stretching till now is more favored technique whereas mulligan adductor stretchingis very new and popular method of increasing muscle flexibility. The present study was undertaken to comparethe effectiveness of 2 stretching programs i.e. Mulligan adductor stretching and static stretching on tight hipadductor. In this trial, 42 athletes who fulfilled the selection criteria were selected and then divided into twogroups based on block randomization. Group-1 received Mulligan’s adductor stretching while Group-2 receivedstatic stretching of hip adductors for 3 alternative days. Hip abduction range of motion (Abd-ROM) wasmeasured on baseline, after first day treatment and finally after third day treatment by a universal goniometer.Mean difference of Abd-ROM within groups on baseline, 1st day after treatment and 3rd day after treatmentwere -8.07, -12.76, -4.69 which shows highly significant difference (p = 0.00) between 3 sessions. MeanAbd-ROM between two groups has not shown significant different (F = 2.99, p > 0.05). It is concluded thatMulligan’s adductor stretching and static stretching both are equally effective in increasing Abd-ROM