Effect of heat modalities on hamstring length: a comparison of pneumatherm, moist heat pack, and a control.

Study Design Prospective, researcher-blinded, repeated-measures, randomized complete block design. Objectives To compare the effects of a single treatment of Pneumatherm, moist heat pack, and a control treatment on hamstring muscle length. Background Traditionally, heating modalities have been used to facilitate increases in tissue length. The Pneumatherm has been developed over the past 20 years for use in the clinical treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal pathologies. However, there is no published evidence supporting the use of Pneumatherm for improving muscle length. Subjects Participants consisted of 30 healthy, college-age males taken from a convenience sampling from the University of Indianapolis student population. Methods and Measures Participants received a 3-treatment sequence on consecutive days. Treatments involved applying the determined modality to the posterior thigh using standard treatment protocols. A hand-held dynamometer was used to establish a consistent passive measurement force...