Comparison of cardiovascular responses with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on pectorals and hamstrings with valsalva maneuver in young adults

Introduction: According to the American College of Sports Medicine, flexibility is an important component of good physical fitness and health. Therefore, for physical activity programs, muscles stretching exercise is an important component. Sedentary or less flexible subjects may perform the VM during stretching exercises due to difficulty in reaching and sustaining extreme ranges of motion. Materials and methods: 40 participants of age group 18-25 years having either hamstrings or pectorals tightness were included in quasi experimental study by convenient sampling technique. 20 subjects were included in each group: group A hamstrings tightness and group B pectorals tightness. 3 reps of stretching were given with 15 sec rest after each rep. Heart rate and Blood pressure was measured. Results: PNF stretching of hamstrings with VM shows significant increase in HR, SBP and DBP compared to PNF stretching of pectorals. Conclusion: PNF stretching of hamstrings with VM shows significant increase in HR, SBP and DBP compared to PNF stretching of pectorals.