Effects of Different Iliopsoas Stretching Methods on the Spine and Pelvis: Randomized Crossover Study

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of three types of iliopsoas stretching method on the spine and pelvis. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 18 healthy university students. Three sets of 20-second static stretching (SS), hold relax-proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (HR-PNF), and dynamic stretching (DS) exercises were performed on the iliopsoas muscle, and the T12, S1, lumbar lordosis angle, lumbar range of motion, and pelvic tilt angle were measured before, immediately after, and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after stretching. [Results] HR-PNF elicited an increase in T12 and a decrease in pelvic tilt angle. A decrease in T12 was observed after DS. It was found that the range of motion of the lumbar spine increased to some extent regardless of the stretching method. [Conclusion] HR-PNF was found to be the most effective stretching method of the three for reducing pelvic tilt in healthy young subjects.