Short Hamstring SyndromeNCT07849686
Hamstring Tissue Flossing vs Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition in Football Players
A study testing Hamstring Tissue Flossing, Conventional Physiotherapy and Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique in people with Short Hamstring Syndrome, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effects of hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in football players with short hamstring syndrome. The study will include male and female football players aged 18 to 35 years who have unilateral hamstring tightness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Short Hamstring Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Hamstring Tissue Flossing, Conventional Physiotherapy and Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 20 Aug 2026to 20 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Football players aged 18 to 35 years. Both male and female players. Players with unilateral hamstring tightness with Straight Leg Raise (SLR) less than 80° and Active Knee Extension (AKE) less than 125°.
- Players with a BMI between 18.5 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m². Players who practice football at least 3 days per week.
Who cannot join
- Players with any acute or chronic hamstring strain or lower back pain. Players with a previous history of lower-extremity injury within the past 3 months.
- Players who are not willing to provide informed consent. Players with leg length discrepancy. Players with a sedentary lifestyle. Players with an upper motor neuron or lower motor neuron lesion.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
University of Lahore Teaching Hoapital
Lahore, Punjab Province
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Hamstring Tissue Flossing and Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique in Football Players With Short Hamstring Syndrome
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effects of hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in football players with short hamstring syndrome. The study will include male and female football players aged 18 to 35 years who have unilateral hamstring tightness.
Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing along with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique along with the same conventional physiotherapy. Both groups will receive treatment for 30 minutes per session, four sessions per week for five weeks.
Read more
The study will assess changes in quality of life, lower-extremity function, range of motion, and hamstring tightness. Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 Health Survey, lower-extremity function using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), range of motion using the Active Knee Extension (AKE) test with a universal goniometer, and hamstring tightness using the popliteal angle.
The study will determine whether there is a difference between the two treatment approaches in improving these outcomes among football players with short hamstring syndrome.
Read the detailed description
Short hamstring syndrome is characterized by reduced hamstring flexibility and tightness, which may affect lower-extremity movement and function in physically active individuals such as football players. This study is designed to compare two physiotherapy approaches: hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique.
The study will use a randomized clinical trial design. Participants will be recruited from Athar Football Academy (AFA), Lahore, using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. A total sample of 72 football players is planned, with 36 participants allocated to each group after accounting for a 10% attrition rate. Participants will be male or female football players aged 18 to 35 years who have unilateral hamstring tightness, defined in the protocol by a straight leg raise of less than 80 degrees and an active knee extension of less than 125 degrees. Participants will also have a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m² and practice football at least three days per week.
Participants with acute or chronic hamstring strain or lower back pain, a lower-extremity injury within the previous three months, leg length discrepancy, sedentary lifestyle, or upper or lower motor neuron lesions will be excluded. Participants who are unwilling to provide informed consent will also be excluded.
Eligible participants will be randomly allocated using a sealed-envelope method. The study will use single blinding, with the outcome assessor blinded to group allocation.
Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing in addition to conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will include hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. Hamstring tissue flossing will then be applied using a flossing band around the thigh. The protocol specifies application of the flossing band for approximately 1 to 3 minutes, with compression assessed using a sphygmomanometer. Participants in this group will receive 30-minute intervention sessions four times per week for five weeks.
Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in addition to the same conventional physiotherapy. The suboccipital technique will be performed with the participant in a supine position while the therapist applies gentle pressure beneath the occipital region for approximately two minutes until tissue relaxation is achieved. Participants in this group will also receive 30-minute intervention sessions four times per week for five weeks.
Outcome assessment will include quality of life, lower-extremity function, range of motion, and hamstring tightness. Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 Health Survey. Lower-extremity function will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Range of motion will be assessed using the Active Knee Extension test with a universal goniometer. Hamstring tightness will be assessed using the popliteal angle.
The study hypothesis is that there will be a significant difference between hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in their effects on quality of life, range of motion, lower-extremity function, and hamstring tightness in football players with short hamstring syndrome.
Data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0. Normality will be assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test will be used for within-group comparisons, while Independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U Test will be used for between-group comparisons, according to data distribution.
- Conditions
- Short Hamstring Syndrome
- Being tested
- Hamstring Tissue Flossing, Conventional Physiotherapy, Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique
- Keywords
- Short hamstring syndrome, Hamstring tightness, Hamstring flexibility, Football players, Hamstring tissue flossing, Suboccipital muscle inhibition technique
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Hamstring Tissue FlossingBehavioural
Hamstring tissue flossing will be applied using an elastic flossing band around the thigh. The protocol specifies application for approximately 1 to 3 minutes, with compression assessed using a sphygmomanometer. The flossing procedure will be performed following conventional physiotherapy.
Conventional PhysiotherapyBehavioural
Conventional physiotherapy will consist of hot pack application for 5 minutes, TENS for 10 minutes, passive hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises.
Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition TechniqueBehavioural
The participant will lie in a supine position with the eyes closed. The therapist will place the palms beneath the participant's head and use the middle and ring fingers to locate the area between the occipital condyles and the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra. Gentle upward pressure will be applied toward the patient's nose and in the direction of the head for approximately 2 minutes until tissue relaxation is achieved.
Conventional PhysiotherapyBehavioural
Conventional physiotherapy will consist of hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises, following the same routine as Group A.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hamstring Tissue Flossing + Conventional Physiotherapy | Experimental | Participants assigned to Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing in combination with conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will include hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. Hamstring tissue flossing will then be applied to the thigh using a flossing band. The intervention will be provided for 30 minutes per session, 4 sessions per week for 5 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Hamstring Tissue Flossing; Behavioral: Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique + Conventional Physiotherapy | Active comparator | Participants assigned to Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in combination with conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will consist of the same routine provided to Group A, including hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. The suboccipital muscle inhibition technique will then be performed for approximately 2 minutes. The total intervention will be provided for 30 minutes per session, 4 sessions per week for 5 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Conventional Physiotherapy; Behavioral: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test
Hamstring flexibility/range of motion will be assessed using the Active Knee Extension test with a universal goniometer.
Measured: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Quality of Life (SF-12)
Quality of life will be assessed using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).
Measured: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Lower Extremity Function
Lower-extremity function will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), a 20-item patient-reported measure with a total score ranging from 0 to 80.
Measured: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Hamstring Tightness
Hamstring tightness will be assessed using the popliteal angle measured with a universal goniometer.
Measured: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Sep 2026
- Study start20 Aug 2026
- Primary completion20 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion20 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Short Hamstring SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two parallel intervention groups. Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique with conventional physiotherapy.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Aliya Siddique, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07849686
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UOL/IREB/26/23/01/0001
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Hamstring Tissue Flossing and Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique in Football Players With Short Hamstring Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07849686
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UOL/IREB/26/23/01/0001
- Conditions
- Short Hamstring Syndrome
- Keywords
- Short hamstring syndrome, Hamstring tightness, Hamstring flexibility, Football players, Hamstring tissue flossing, Suboccipital muscle inhibition technique
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized clinical trial will compare the effects of hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in football players with short hamstring syndrome. The study will include male and female football players aged 18 to 35 years who have unilateral hamstring tightness.
Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing along with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique along with the same conventional physiotherapy. Both groups will receive treatment for 30 minutes per session, four sessions per week for five weeks.
The study will assess changes in quality of life, lower-extremity function, range of motion, and hamstring tightness. Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 Health Survey, lower-extremity function using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), range of motion using the Active Knee Extension (AKE) test with a universal goniometer, and hamstring tightness using the popliteal angle.
The study will determine whether there is a difference between the two treatment approaches in improving these outcomes among football players with short hamstring syndrome.
Detailed description
Short hamstring syndrome is characterized by reduced hamstring flexibility and tightness, which may affect lower-extremity movement and function in physically active individuals such as football players. This study is designed to compare two physiotherapy approaches: hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique.
The study will use a randomized clinical trial design. Participants will be recruited from Athar Football Academy (AFA), Lahore, using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. A total sample of 72 football players is planned, with 36 participants allocated to each group after accounting for a 10% attrition rate. Participants will be male or female football players aged 18 to 35 years who have unilateral hamstring tightness, defined in the protocol by a straight leg raise of less than 80 degrees and an active knee extension of less than 125 degrees. Participants will also have a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m² and practice football at least three days per week.
Participants with acute or chronic hamstring strain or lower back pain, a lower-extremity injury within the previous three months, leg length discrepancy, sedentary lifestyle, or upper or lower motor neuron lesions will be excluded. Participants who are unwilling to provide informed consent will also be excluded.
Eligible participants will be randomly allocated using a sealed-envelope method. The study will use single blinding, with the outcome assessor blinded to group allocation.
Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing in addition to conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will include hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. Hamstring tissue flossing will then be applied using a flossing band around the thigh. The protocol specifies application of the flossing band for approximately 1 to 3 minutes, with compression assessed using a sphygmomanometer. Participants in this group will receive 30-minute intervention sessions four times per week for five weeks.
Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in addition to the same conventional physiotherapy. The suboccipital technique will be performed with the participant in a supine position while the therapist applies gentle pressure beneath the occipital region for approximately two minutes until tissue relaxation is achieved. Participants in this group will also receive 30-minute intervention sessions four times per week for five weeks.
Outcome assessment will include quality of life, lower-extremity function, range of motion, and hamstring tightness. Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12 Health Survey. Lower-extremity function will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Range of motion will be assessed using the Active Knee Extension test with a universal goniometer. Hamstring tightness will be assessed using the popliteal angle.
The study hypothesis is that there will be a significant difference between hamstring tissue flossing and suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in their effects on quality of life, range of motion, lower-extremity function, and hamstring tightness in football players with short hamstring syndrome.
Data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0. Normality will be assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test will be used for within-group comparisons, while Independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U Test will be used for between-group comparisons, according to data distribution.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two parallel intervention groups. Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique with conventional physiotherapy.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hamstring Tissue Flossing + Conventional Physiotherapy | Experimental | Behavioral: Hamstring Tissue Flossing, Behavioral: Conventional PhysiotherapyParticipants assigned to Group A will receive hamstring tissue flossing in combination with conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will include hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. Hamstring tissue flossing will then be applied to the thigh using a flossing band. The intervention will be provided for 30 minutes per session, 4 sessions per week for 5 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions. |
| Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique + Conventional Physiotherapy | Active comparator | Behavioral: Conventional Physiotherapy, Behavioral: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition TechniqueParticipants assigned to Group B will receive suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in combination with conventional physiotherapy. Conventional physiotherapy will consist of the same routine provided to Group A, including hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. The suboccipital muscle inhibition technique will then be performed for approximately 2 minutes. The total intervention will be provided for 30 minutes per session, 4 sessions per week for 5 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Football players aged 18 to 35 years. Both male and female players. Players with unilateral hamstring tightness with Straight Leg Raise (SLR) less than 80° and Active Knee Extension (AKE) less than 125°.
- Players with a BMI between 18.5 kg/m² and 29.9 kg/m². Players who practice football at least 3 days per week.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Players with any acute or chronic hamstring strain or lower back pain. Players with a previous history of lower-extremity injury within the past 3 months.
- Players who are not willing to provide informed consent. Players with leg length discrepancy. Players with a sedentary lifestyle. Players with an upper motor neuron or lower motor neuron lesion.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Hamstring Tissue FlossingHamstring tissue flossing will be applied using an elastic flossing band around the thigh. The protocol specifies application for approximately 1 to 3 minutes, with compression assessed using a sphygmomanometer. The flossing procedure will be performed following conventional physiotherapy. | Behavioural | Hamstring Tissue Flossing + Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Conventional PhysiotherapyConventional physiotherapy will consist of hot pack application for 5 minutes, TENS for 10 minutes, passive hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises. | Behavioural | Hamstring Tissue Flossing + Conventional Physiotherapy, Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique + Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition TechniqueThe participant will lie in a supine position with the eyes closed. The therapist will place the palms beneath the participant's head and use the middle and ring fingers to locate the area between the occipital condyles and the spinous process of the second cervical vertebra. Gentle upward pressure will be applied toward the patient's nose and in the direction of the head for approximately 2 minutes until tissue relaxation is achieved. | Behavioural | Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique + Conventional Physiotherapy |
| Conventional PhysiotherapyConventional physiotherapy will consist of hot pack application, TENS, hamstring stretching, and ankle pump exercises, following the same routine as Group A. | Behavioural | Hamstring Tissue Flossing + Conventional Physiotherapy, Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique + Conventional Physiotherapy |
Primary outcome
Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test
Time frame: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Hamstring flexibility/range of motion will be assessed using the Active Knee Extension test with a universal goniometer.
3 secondary outcomes
Quality of Life (SF-12)
Time frame: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Lower Extremity Function
Time frame: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Hamstring Tightness
Time frame: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because this study was conducted as an academic research project. The informed consent obtained from participants did not include provisions for public data sharing, and the dataset contains sensitive personal health information. Data will be stored securely and
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Hamstring Tissue Flossing, Conventional Physiotherapy and Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique in people with Short Hamstring Syndrome, run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test (time frame: Baseline and after 5 weeks of intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Sep 2026.