How
Upper Neck Muscles Influence Hamstring Length
Below are the abstracts of an interesting research
study. The researchers used PNF (or active resistance) stretching to examine
the effect of upper neck muscles on hip joint range of motion.
Stretching the hamstrings caused 9% increase in hip
extension range of motion as measured with the passive 'straight leg raise'
(SLR) manouver. Yet stretching the small suboccipital muscles(which
connect the occiput with the upper two vertebrae) resulted in almost
twice as much (13%) increase of hamstring length as
measured with the same SLR test.
The explanation for this extraordinary finding has
probably more to do with the neurological importance of the suboccipital
muscles. These small muscles have the highest density of muscles spindles in
the whole body (and apparently on the whole planet!) and have a major sensory
function for antigravity organization. Via the so called 'Tonic Neck
Reflex' (which we share with most other mammals) an extension of these
muscles tends to trigger a tonus decrease of the hipjoint extensors.
My suggested conclusion for bodyworkers & movem.
therapists: if a client shortens the upper neck, his hamstrings will stay short
no matter how much he wants to stretch or lengthen them. Whereas if he lowers
the tonus of these upper neck muscles (either passively via myofascial
manipulation or via active ideokinetic movement facilitation) lengthening the
hamstrings and increasing hip flexion range of motion will be much easier.
This fits also with a verbal report I heard from Hubert Godard
about an interesting research in Italy: runners on a treadmill would
unconsciously increase their running speed when a bioelectrical
device on their neck lowered the tonus of the upper neck muscles. Whereas
increasing the tonus of these muscles made them slow down their speed, although
they were not aware of this and perceived their speed as constant. So a stiff
occiput-neck connection will tend to 'put a break' into the legs via shortening
of the hamstrings, and a long and loose occiput-neck connection will take 'the
break out' by lengthening the midrange of hamstring length and will make the
legs swing much faster and easier.
Robert Schleip
P.S.: For more info on the suboccipital muscles see:
McPartland J M, Brodeur R R, Rectus capitis posterior minor: a small but
important suboccipital muscle, Journal of Bodywork and
Movement Therapies, January 1996
Back to the article collection
ABSTRACTS from:
Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapies, September 1997; 20:443-447.
http://www.national.chiropractic.edu/jmpt/abstracts.html
A Study of Two Stretching Techniques for Improving Hip Flexion Range of
Motion
Henry Pollard, GradDipChiro,GradDipAppSc,1 and Graham Ward, PhD2
Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of a spinal (suboccipital)
stretching technique to a peripheral stretching technique.
Design: Clinical cohort study.
Setting: Macquarie University Centre for Chiropractic Outpatient Clinic.
Method: A reliable hand-held dynamometer was used to determine the end
point of range of motion (ROM) before and after the application of a treatment.
Three groups of subjects were treated: cervical stretch, hip stretch, and
sham/placebo. ROM of the hip in flexion (straight leg raise) was used as the
independent variable.
Sample: Sixty randomly allocated university students aged between 18 and
35 yrs.
Results: The two stretching treatments resulted in increased flexion
range of motion ROM at the hip. Statistical analysis revealed that only the
sub-occipital stretching procedure increased hip flexion ROM significantly.
Conclusion: Manual therapy of the neck may have a role to play in the
treatment of extraspinal, lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions.