Comparison of Shockwave Therapy and Exercise on Pain, Flexibility, and Balance in Hamstring Tightness

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT): Non-invasive therapy delivering high-energy shock waves to stimulate healing in musculoskeletal tissues, targeting the hamstring muscles and related structures, administered 2 times per week for 4 weeks, alongside core exercises.

Exercise Program: Structured exercises focusing on hamstring flexibility, lumbar stabilization, and core exercises, administered 3 times per week for 3 weeks, with sessions lasting 30-45 minutes.

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the short- and long-term effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and exercise therapy on pain, flexibility, and balance in individuals with low back pain associated with hamstring tightness. Thirty participants will be randomized into two groups (ESWT or exercise) and receive interventions twice weekly for four weeks. Outcomes include pain (a (VAS), flexibility (Popliteal Angle and Fingertip-to-Floor tests), and balance (Y-Balance Test), assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at a four-week follow-up.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Pain Intensity — Baseline, Week 4 (Post-treatment), Week 8 (Follow-up)
  Measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 0-10 scale where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain.
• Hamstring Flexibility (Popliteal Angle) — Baseline, Week 4 (Post-treatment), Week 8 (Follow-up)
  Measured using the Popliteal Angle Test with a goniometer in degrees to assess hamstring muscle flexibility.
• Hamstring Flexibility (Fingertip-to-Floor Distance) — Baseline, Week 4 (Post-treatment), Week 8 (Follow-up)
  Measured in centimeters as the vertical distance between the fingertip and the floor during a forward bend with knees extended.
• Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test) — Baseline, Week 4 (Post-treatment), Week 8 (Follow-up)
  Measured in centimeters using the Y-Balance Test in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions.

Trial sites (1)

More Bahçeşehir University trials in Turkey

Other trials for the same condition