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Purpose: In taekwondo, muscle flexibility specifically in the lower limb is of great importance for athletic performance. In this study, we evaluated the acute effects of static versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching combined with kinesiology taping (KT) of the hamstring muscle on functional tests in adolescent taekwondo athletes. Methods: 20 adolescent taekwondo athletes aged 9 to 18 years with red, black belt color participated in this study. They performed static, or PNF stretching in both legs, then two I strips with 30% tension as an inhibitory fashion was applied over the hamstring muscles of one leg and the other leg was determined as control. Single leg vertical jump test, single leg hop test, and taekwondo specific agility test (TSAT) were performed before, just after, and 24 hours after interventions. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis of the data. All functional tests results demonstrated significant improvement over time (Single leg vertical jump (p=0.005), single leg hop test (p=0.01), and TSAT (p=0.03)) but none of the stretching or the KT groups affected the functional performance of the participants (Single leg vertical jump (p=0.36) and single leg hop test (p=0.50)). Conclusion: We think that both static and PNF stretching exercises improve the functional performance of adolescent taekwando athletes for up to 24 hours, however KT application has no significant effect.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of core neuromuscular training on pain, balance, and performance in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). METHODS: This randomized single-blind trial was based on a convenience sample of 28 women with unilateral PFPS. All participants were assigned randomly to the intervention or control group with a block randomization method. The control group received routine physical therapy exercise for PFPS. The intervention group received core neuromuscular training in addition to routine physical therapy exercise. The outcome measures evaluated were pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), function (Kujala patellofemoral questionnaire and step-down performance test), and balance (Y balance test). RESULTS: In both groups the pain score was significantly lower after treatment (P = .001). The slope of this trend was greater in the intervention group. The Kujala and step-down scores improved significantly after treatment in both groups, although the improvements were greater in the intervention group. The Y balance score improved in all 3 directions after therapy in both groups (P < .05); improvement was significantly greater in the intervention group only in the posteromedial direction (P = .016). CONCLUSION: For the group of participants studied, a 4-week core neuromuscular training plus routine physiotherapy exercise was more effective than routine physiotherapy exercise alone for improving pain, balance, and functional performance in individuals with PFPS.