International Journal of Biomedical And Advance Research ISSN: 2229-3809 (Online) Journal DOI:10.7439/ijbar CODEN:IJBABN IJBAR (2014) 05 (03) www.ssjournals.com Research Article Different stretching methods of the quadriceps muscles on agility performance in female cricket players of 13-15 years age Kiran Anil Mendhe * , Bushra Siddique, Radhika Verma, Smriti Sahu and Priyanka Purohit VSPMS College of Physiotherapy, Nagpur, India *Correspondence Info: Dr. Kiran Anil Mendhe Assistant Professor, VSPMS College of Physiotherapy, Nagpur, India Email: kjanbandhu@yahoo.co.in 1. Introduction Stretching is a therapeutic activity done to increase the extensile properties of soft tissue structures &, thereby enhance the flexibility by elongating contractures or hypomobile structures. 1, 2, 3 Static stretching is a technique in which the contracted or hypomobile structure is held in a lengthened position beyond the point of resistance for a specific period of time. The duration of static stretch is pre-determined prior to stretching or is based on the patient's tolerance and response during the stretching procedure. 4 In research studies the term "static stretching" has been linked to durations of a single stretch cycle ranging from as few as 5 seconds to 5 minutes per repetition when either a manual stretch or procedure is employed. 5-9 Muscle energy techniques are manipulative procedures that have evolved out of osteopathic medicine & used to elongate fascia & muscles & improve mobility of joints. The procedure recruits voluntary muscle contraction done by the patient in specifically determined direction against the opposite force applied by the therapist. 10 Agility plays a cardinal role in various sports activities; it involves swiftly changing directions with regard to the area involved in the sports place with speed and precision. Agility involves co-ordinate working of the whole body systems by using static & dynamic balance, reflexes, strength, speed & endurance. 11 Cricket players need to be expeditious across the space of the two wickets during their batting in order to score optimum runs for the team, the bowlers require speed and agility for proper execution of their bowling action and sway required, the outfield is utmost huge and the fielders have to be swift to cover the fielding space to catch the ball and save runs for the team & need to be agile to dive or earn those precious catches, & acquiring different positions after the over is completed. 12 Thus agility plays an important role in cricket players. All four quadriceps are powerful extensors of the knee joint. They are crucial in walking, running, jumping and squatting. 13 Functions of the quadriceps are torque production of knee extension and hip flexion during walking and running. 13 Thus agility and stretching techniques being the backbone, the study commences. Need to study: The purpose of our study was to inspect the changes resulting in agility performance from various stretching techniques (static stretching & muscle energy technique) described for the quadriceps muscle group. Aims & objective: 1. To find out the time performance by the female high school cricket athlete in agility performance in response to different stretching techniques. 2. To compare the effects of no stretching, static stretching, & muscle energy technique (MET), of the quadriceps on agility after performing the agility T-test. 2. Method 2.1 Study setting: Providence Girls' High School auditorium, Nagpur. 2.2 Study design: Interventional study. 2.3 Sample selection: 13-15 years female high school cricket athletes (N=60), Age matched normal & healthy female individuals (N=60) 2.4 Sample size: Total number of subjects 60. Abstract Background: Stretching is widely used for various therapeutic purposes, fitness programs, & athletic events. Quondam research shows that stretching may have the pernicious result on performance, therefore precise knowledge of its effects on performance is important to take adequate stretching techniques into consideration for sports training and therapeutic interventions. Need of study: The purpose of our study was to inspect the changes resulting in agility performance from various stretching techniques (static stretching & muscle energy technique) descriptor for the quadriceps muscle group. Method: 60 female cricket players of age 13-15 years were selected to perform the stretching techniques (no stretch, static stretch & muscle energy technique for quadriceps) on three successive days & completed the agility T-test after the three stretching techniques were executed. Result: The mean of agility t-test time were: control group (no stretch) =16.93 seconds, static stretch group=16.3 seconds, muscle energy technique group=16.18 seconds. The test of significance ANOVA shows no statistical significant difference, F=2.8, p=0.05, for the control group (no stretch), static stretching, and muscle energy technique in agility T-test times. Statistical T-test analysis reveals that there is a significant difference between no stretch (control group) and MET group, p-value 0.02 & non-significant difference between no stretch (control group) & static stretch group, p-value 0.057 & static stretch & MET group, p-value 0.72. Conclusion: To conclude, results of our study evince that there is no significant effect on agility after receiving the different stretching techniques with respect to quadriceps muscle. Keywords: Agility, static stretch, muscle energy technique, cricket players.