Comparison of suboccipital muscle inhibition and Bowen technique on hamstring tightness in college students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/a3br8f71Keywords:
hamstring tightness, Bowen technique, suboccipital muscle inhibition, manual therapy, health and well-beingAbstract
Muscle tightness refers to the inability of a muscle to function through the full range of motion (ROM) of the specific joint. Prolonged sitting posture, which keeps the hamstrings in a contracted position, is a common cause of hamstring tightness among students. The study aims to compare and analyse the efficacy of suboccipital muscle inhibition techniques and the Bowen technique in reducing hamstring tightness among college students. In a six-week study, 40 participants were randomly assigned to two groups according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Suboccipital muscle inhibition was applied to Group A (n=20), and the Bowen method was given to Group B (n=20). Pre- and post-intervention data were collected using the straight-leg raise (SLR) and active knee extension (AKE) tests. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in bilateral SLR and AKE (p < 0.01). Post-test comparison between Group A and Group B revealed a statistically significant difference in right SLR (p = 0.002), left SLR (p = 0.008), right AKE (p = 0.008), and left AKE (p < 0.01), with Group B demonstrating superior improvement. The findings suggest that both techniques were effective; however, the Bowen technique demonstrated greater improvements in range of motion and overall flexibility among college students.
References
Cai, P., Liu, L., & Li, H. (2023). Dynamic and static stretching on hamstring flexibility and stiffness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 9(8), e18795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18795
Maghsoud Eivazi Gh, Amin Alilou, Solmaz Ghafurinia, & Fereydounnia, S. (2012). Prevalence of faulty posture in children and youth from a rural region in Iran. 4(2012), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-012-0023-z
Linklater, J., Hamilton, B., Carmichael, J., Orchard, J., & Wood, D. (2010). Hamstring Injuries: Anatomy, Imaging, and Intervention. Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology, 14(02), 131–161. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1253157
Garn, A. C., & Simonton, K. L. (2023). Prolonged Sitting in University Students: An Intra-Individual Study Exploring Physical Activity Value as a Deterrent. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 1891. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031891
Arab, A. M., & Nourbakhsh, M. R. (2014). Hamstring muscle length and lumbar lordosis in subjects with different lifestyle and work setting: Comparison between individuals with and without chronic low back pain. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 27(1), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.3233/bmr-130420
Koli, B., & Anap, D. (2018). PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF HAMSTRING TIGHTNESS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENT: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY. International Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Research, 4(2), 65. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijcbr.2018.42.14
M., K., P., H., & T., D. (2021). Hamstring tightness causing low back pain among college-going students - a cross-sectional study. Biomedicine, 40(4), 531–534. https://doi.org/10.51248/.v40i4.335
Namkorn, P., Chaiut, W., Sutalangka, C., Padungkiettiwong, W., Taniguchi, R., & Sitthipornvorakul, E. (2024). Immediate Effect of Hamstring Stretching on Q Angle, Flexibility, and Balance in Individuals with Hamstring Tightness. Journal of Health Science and Medical Research, 20241114. https://doi.org/10.31584/jhsmr.20241114
Abideen, Z. ul, Zahoor, A., Amjad, S., Akram, R., Liaqat, A., Azka Ijaz, & Abdur Rauf. (2024). Effects of Active Release Technique Versus Mulligan Bent Leg Raise on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Individuals; A Quasi-Experimental Study. The Healer Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, 4(2), 948–957. https://doi.org/10.55735/hjprs.v4i2.239
Aparicio, É. Q., Quirante, L. B., Blanco, C. R., & Sendín, F. A. (2009). Immediate effects of the suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in subjects with short hamstring syndrome. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 32(4), 262-269.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.03.006
D., H., Siva, S., S., A., D., B., & G., D. (2026). Effectiveness of suboccipital muscle inhibition technique in patients with chronic headache: a pilot study. Physical Rehabilitation and Recreational Health Technologies, 11(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.15391/prrht.2026-11(2).04
Marr, M., Baker, J., Lambon, N., & Perry, J. (2011). The effects of the Bowen technique on hamstring flexibility over time: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15(3), 281–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.07.008
Banerjee, S. B., & Mukhi, S. (2020). Immediate effect of non ballistic active knee extension in neural slump position versus muscle energy technique on hamstring flexiblity in young adults-Comparative study. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, 14(3), 246–252. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijpot.v14i3.9703
Kariya, S. K., Naqvi, W. M., Wadhokar, O., & Phansopkar, P. (2021). Sub Occipital Muscle Inhibition Technique Verses Cranial Cervical Flexion Exercise for Increasing Hamstring Flexibility in Physiotherapy Students. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 8–13. https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i49a33295
Kage, V., Bootwala, F., & Kudchadkar, G. (2017). Effect of Bowen technique versus muscle energy technique on asymptomatic subjects with hamstring tightness: A randomized clinical trial. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 6(4), 102–108.
Neto, T., Jacobsohn, L., Carita, A. I., & Oliveira, R. (2015). Reliability of the Active-Knee-Extension and Straight-Leg-Raise Tests in Subjects With Flexibility Deficits. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2014-0220
Hamzeh, M., Minoonejad, H., & Seidi, F. (2020). The effect of 8-week Self-Myofascial Release Therapy on Joint Position Sense and dynamic balance in athletes with hamstring shortness. https://doi.org/10.30476/JRSR.2020.84374.1055
Yıldırım, M. Ş., Tuna, F., Demirbağ Kabayel, D., & Süt, N. (2018). The Cut-off Values for the Diagnosis of Hamstring Shortness and Related Factors. Balkan Medical Journal, 35(5), 388–393. https://doi.org/10.4274/balkanmedj.2017.1517
Olivencia, O., Godinez, G. M., Dages, J., Duda, C., Kaplan, K., Kolber, M. J., Kaplan, & Kolber. (2020). THE RELIABILITY AND MINIMAL DETECTABLE CHANGE OF THE ELY AND ACTIVE KNEE EXTENSION TESTS. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 15(5), 776–782. https://doi.org/10.26603/ijspt20200776
Behera, D., Arjun, A., & Joseph, G. (2024). Effects of prolonged sitting on hamstring flexibility among physiotherapy students. International Journal, 7(3), 90.
Waqas, M. S., Ali, M., Hussain, S., & Mahmood, S. (2016). Frequency of reduced hamstring flexibility in prolong sitting (6-8 hours) among office workers: JRCRS. 2016; 4 (2): 77-80. Journal Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, 4(2), 77-80.
Prajapati, U. M., & Shukla, Y. U. (2020). Effect of Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique on Hamstring Tightness in Healthy Adults—An Interventional Study. Int. J. Sci. Healthc. Res, 5, 51-58.
Wilks J. The Bowen technique: mechanisms for action. J Aust Tradit Med Soc. 2013;19(1):33–35.
Thomas, A. J., Kumar, R. V., Manickavasagam, I., Anand, M., Alagesan, J., & Kumar, P. V. (2026, April). Effect of pilates exercise for football players on hamstring flexibility using Kinovea software-A quasi-experimental study. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3371, No. 1, p. 020019). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0312074
Ashraf, M., Fatima, A., Rehman, M. U., Asif, M., Khalid, R., & Noor Ul Zuha. (2024). Compare the Effects of Bowen Technique and Muscle Energy Technique on Hamstrings Tightness in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 4(1), 1519–1524. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i1.548
Kang, Y.-H., Ha, W.-B., Geum, J.-H., Woo, H., Han, Y.-H., Park, S.-H., & Lee, J.-H. (2023). Effect of Muscle Energy Technique on Hamstring Flexibility: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare, 11(8), 1089. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081089
Badusha, M. R. S., Kamalakannan, M., & Balaji, M. (2025). Comparison of Neurodynamic Sliding Versus Bowen Technique for Hamstring Tightness Among College Students Using Kemtai (AI). Advances in Computer Science Research, 346–354. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-718-2_30
Saxena, S., Aman, I., Sonali, Asif, Mohd., Khan, G., & Zutshi, K. (2025). Immediate effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) versus myofascial release technique (MFR) on hamstring flexibility and dynamic balance among young adults. The Journal of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/ph9.0000000000000051
Kishwar Batool, Mehmood, M., Muhammad Muneeb Jafar, & Maham Gull. (2024). Comparative efficacy of muscle energy technique and Bowen technique on hamstrings muscle tightness in chronic low back pain patients. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 40(9). https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.9.8517
Cho, S.-H., Kim, S.-H., & Park, D.-J. (2015). The comparison of the immediate effects of application of the suboccipital muscle inhibition and self-myofascial release techniques in the suboccipital region on short hamstring. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(1), 195–197. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.195
Anandan, J., Babu, H., Sharmila, B., Misra, A., Nainar, M., & Subramanian, S. S. (2026, April). Role of myoton software on hamstring tightness among male collegiate football players. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3371, No. 1, p. 040009). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0312074
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tamizharasi B D, Dhanusia S, Prathap Suganthirababu, Manikandan Madasamy, Harini karunakaran, Suriya N, Vanitha Jayaraj, Priyadharshini Kumar (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The works published in this journal are subject to the following terms:
The author retains the economic rights (copyright) of the published works and grants the journal the right of first publication.
The works are published in the electronic edition of the journal under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike license. They may be copied, used, distributed, transmitted, and publicly displayed, provided that: (i) authorship and the original source of publication (journal, publisher, and URL of the work) are cited; (ii) they are not used for commercial purposes; (iii) the existence and specifications of this license are indicated.
Self-archiving conditions. Authors are permitted and encouraged to disseminate electronically the post-print versions (publisher’s version), as this facilitates earlier circulation and dissemination, potentially increasing citation and reach within the academic community. Authors may also deposit their articles in repositories and other platforms that support the dissemination of information, provided that the version used is the post-print (publisher’s version). RoMEO color: Blue.
