The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial
Introduction Hip range of motion (ROM) across various planes is necessary in sport-related activities. Static stretching was commonly used to improve hip ROM. The Lightback system, a novel compression device, has been developed to enhance hip mobility by applying controlled axial forces on the femur...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PeerJ Inc.
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | PeerJ |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/18523.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1825202114821881856 |
|---|---|
| author | Charles Cotteret Jaime Almazán-Polo Fabien Guérineau Ángel González de-la-Flor |
| author_facet | Charles Cotteret Jaime Almazán-Polo Fabien Guérineau Ángel González de-la-Flor |
| author_sort | Charles Cotteret |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Hip range of motion (ROM) across various planes is necessary in sport-related activities. Static stretching was commonly used to improve hip ROM. The Lightback system, a novel compression device, has been developed to enhance hip mobility by applying controlled axial forces on the femur. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lightback system in improving hip ROM and posterior chain flexibility compared to conventional static stretching. Methods A randomized cross-over trial was carried out in 31 physically active participants (62 lower limbs; n = 31 Lightback group (LBG) and n = 31 stretching group (SG)). Hip rotation at two positions of hip flexion (active and passive external (ER) and internal rotation (IR) at 0–90° hip flexion), total rotation ROM (TRROM), and the flexibility of the posterior chain (active knee extension test (AKE) and active straight leg raise (ASLR)) were measured before and after the stretching session. Results LBG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in hip ER and IR compared to the SG. Specifically, the LBG showed significant increases in active ER at 0° (p = 0.002) and 90° (p < 0.001) of hip flexion, as well as IR at 0° (p = 0.007) and 90° (p < 0.001). TRROM in neutral and at 90° of hip flexion also improved significantly in the LBG (p < 0.001). In passive ROM, the LBG exhibited significant increases in ER at 0° (p < 0.001), IR at 90° (p = 0.001), and TRROM at both positions (p < 0.001), compared to the SG. Regarding posterior chain flexibility, both groups improved in AKE and ASLR (p < 0.001), but the LBG showed a significantly larger effect in ASLR (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between groups in AKE. Conclusion This study demonstrated that both the Lightback system and static gluteal stretching improved passive hip ROM. However, the Lightback system showed greater improvements in active ROM, particularly in external and internal rotation at various degrees of hip flexion, as well as in posterior chain flexibility. Notably, the Lightback system significantly enhanced large improvement in the ASLR test. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa47271b809342d99dfcc278ed9a500d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa47271b809342d99dfcc278ed9a500d2025-02-07T15:05:13ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-02-0113e1852310.7717/peerj.18523The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trialCharles CotteretJaime Almazán-PoloFabien GuérineauÁngel González de-la-FlorIntroduction Hip range of motion (ROM) across various planes is necessary in sport-related activities. Static stretching was commonly used to improve hip ROM. The Lightback system, a novel compression device, has been developed to enhance hip mobility by applying controlled axial forces on the femur. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lightback system in improving hip ROM and posterior chain flexibility compared to conventional static stretching. Methods A randomized cross-over trial was carried out in 31 physically active participants (62 lower limbs; n = 31 Lightback group (LBG) and n = 31 stretching group (SG)). Hip rotation at two positions of hip flexion (active and passive external (ER) and internal rotation (IR) at 0–90° hip flexion), total rotation ROM (TRROM), and the flexibility of the posterior chain (active knee extension test (AKE) and active straight leg raise (ASLR)) were measured before and after the stretching session. Results LBG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in hip ER and IR compared to the SG. Specifically, the LBG showed significant increases in active ER at 0° (p = 0.002) and 90° (p < 0.001) of hip flexion, as well as IR at 0° (p = 0.007) and 90° (p < 0.001). TRROM in neutral and at 90° of hip flexion also improved significantly in the LBG (p < 0.001). In passive ROM, the LBG exhibited significant increases in ER at 0° (p < 0.001), IR at 90° (p = 0.001), and TRROM at both positions (p < 0.001), compared to the SG. Regarding posterior chain flexibility, both groups improved in AKE and ASLR (p < 0.001), but the LBG showed a significantly larger effect in ASLR (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between groups in AKE. Conclusion This study demonstrated that both the Lightback system and static gluteal stretching improved passive hip ROM. However, the Lightback system showed greater improvements in active ROM, particularly in external and internal rotation at various degrees of hip flexion, as well as in posterior chain flexibility. Notably, the Lightback system significantly enhanced large improvement in the ASLR test.https://peerj.com/articles/18523.pdfHip mobilityLightbackPosterior chainStretching |
| spellingShingle | Charles Cotteret Jaime Almazán-Polo Fabien Guérineau Ángel González de-la-Flor The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial PeerJ Hip mobility Lightback Posterior chain Stretching |
| title | The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial |
| title_full | The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial |
| title_fullStr | The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial |
| title_short | The effects of gluteal stretching vs. Lightback® on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects: a cross-over clinical trial |
| title_sort | effects of gluteal stretching vs lightback r on hip rotation range of motion and posterior chain flexibility in healthy subjects a cross over clinical trial |
| topic | Hip mobility Lightback Posterior chain Stretching |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/18523.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT charlescotteret theeffectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT jaimealmazanpolo theeffectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT fabienguerineau theeffectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT angelgonzalezdelaflor theeffectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT charlescotteret effectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT jaimealmazanpolo effectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT fabienguerineau effectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial AT angelgonzalezdelaflor effectsofglutealstretchingvslightbackonhiprotationrangeofmotionandposteriorchainflexibilityinhealthysubjectsacrossoverclinicaltrial |