Immediate effect of MWM adductor stretch, myofascial release, and conventional stretching in asymptomatic individuals with hip adductor tightness: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Hip adductors are the group of muscles that stabilize the pelvis during weight transfer in lower limbs in a gait cycle. As the full range of motion is seldomly used, this group of muscles commonly go into tightness which in turn may be a predisposing factor in development of back pain and knee pain.

Methods: 54 healthy individuals were selected after screening for bilateral hip adductor tightness by measuring hip abduction range of motion using goniometer. They were randomized to either mobilization with movement (MWM) adductor stretch, myofascial release, or conventional stretching group. All subjects were assessed pre and post intervention. Outcome measure used were hip abduction range of motion and bent knee fall out test.

Results: Statistically significant difference was noted between the experimental and the control group in terms of hip abduction range of motion and bent knee fall out test.

Conclusion: Intervention showed significant results in all three groups; however, MWM adductor stretch when used in conjunction with conventional stretching has proved to be more effective than myofascial release with foam roller and conventional stretching in increasing the abduction range of motion and bent knee fall out test.