Effect of Sleeper Stretch with Muscle Energy Technique on Posterior Shoulder Tightness Among College Level Cricket Bowlers

Abstract

Introduction: Posterior shoulder tightness is the extensibility limitations of the soft tissue, due to repetitive tensile loading in overhead athletes such as cricket and other sports. Bowling is the main cause for Posterior shoulder tightness. Hence the Sleeper stretch with muscle energy technique is proposed to be effecting in improving range, flexibility and functional ability. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of Sleeper stretch with Muscle energy technique on posterior shoulder tightness among college level cricket bowlers. Materials and Methods: The study design was a single group experimental study design. On inclusion criteria one hundred and thirty one subjects were selected through convenient sampling technique. The subjects were given sleeper stretch combined with muscle energy technique for 8 consecutive weeks for 5 times in a week, post-test assessment was taken and the data analysis was done respectively. Results: The result of the study post intervention of internal rotation is (72.29° ± 3.73°, P = 0.001<0.05), Horizontal adduction (38.51° ± 2.70°. P = 0.001<0.05), flexibility of posterior capsule (109.81° ± 2.65° P = 0.001<0.05), DASH score for functional ability is (4.43 ± 1.53). Through Pearson chi square test there is a significant association in internal rotation (χ2 = 61.38, P = 0.001<0.005), Horizontal adduction (χ2 = 16.11, P = 0.001<0.05) and no significant association in flexibility of posterior capsule (χ2 = 0.98, P = 0.806>0.05) and DASH Score (χ2 = 4.25, P = 0.120>0.05). Conclusion: Effect of sleeper stretch with MET on PST showed effective results in improving internal rotation range, horizontal adduction, flexibility, functional ability among college level cricket bowlers.