Prevalence of Hamstring Tightness Among Physical Therapy Students at Benha University | ||
| Benha International Journal of Physical Therapy | ||
| Volume 3, Issue 2, December 2025, Pages 264-273 PDF (550.51 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/bijpt.2025.432882.1125 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Nora makram mohamed elfeky* 1; ayah Mahmoud Mohamed2; ragia kamel2 | ||
| 11- department of Basic science, faculty physical therapy, Cairo university, Egypt . 2-department of basic science, physical therapy, benha university, Egypt. | ||
| 21- department of Basic science, faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Hamstring tightness, marked by reduced extensibility, is common among university students. Several risk factors contribute to this, such as prolonged sitting during lectures. Purposes: to find out how common hamstring tightness is among Benha University physical therapy students and investigate how it relates to limb side, gender, and body weight. Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out on 220 students (110 males, 110 females). Hamstring flexibility was assessed utilizing a digital goniometer and the Active Knee Extension (AKE) test. Results: Hamstring tightness was highly prevalent in the study population, with 69.1% of participants showing tightness in the right hamstring and 74.5% in the left. Most participants experienced mild tightness in the right hamstring (39.1%) and in the left hamstring (38.6%). No significant association was found between gender and tightness (right: p = 0.24; left: p = 0.76) or between limb side and tightness. Weight class showed no association with right hamstring tightness (p = 0.09) but was significantly associated with left hamstring tightness, with higher prevalence in overweight/obese participants (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The frequency of hamstring tightness in students pursuing physical therapy was found to be notably high. Hamstring tightness was comparable between both sides, with mild tightness being the most frequently reported grade on both sides. Overweight and obese individuals exhibited a higher incidence of left-sided hamstring tightness compared to those with normal or low body weight. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Active knee extension test; Flexibility; Hamstring muscle shortening | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 10 PDF Download: 5 |
||
