Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching For Improving Hamstring Flexibility in Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic

Abstract

Introduction/Clinical Scenario During a clinical rotation as a graduate athletic training student, I worked with collegiate-level football athletes. A common issue frequently observed was hamstring tightness, which often presented with discomfort during activity, limited range of motion, or reduced performance in activities like sprinting, cutting, or kicking. Traditional static and dynamic stretching was part of the daily warm-up routines, but many athletes continued to demonstrate limited hamstring flexibility. In a therapeutic exercise course, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching, specifically the contract-relax technique, was introduced as a method to improve flexibility by targeting both the contractile and reflexive components of muscle tissue.1 2 Hamstring flexibility plays a crucial role in athletic performance and injury prevention. Limited hamstring flexibility has been associated with altered biomechanics, reduced functional performance, and an increased risk of strain injuries.2 This Critically Appraised Topic aims to evaluate the current evidence on the effectiveness of PNF stretching in improving hamstring flexibility in athletes, and to inform clinical decision-making in athletic training settings