The effects of hip flexor stretching with and without abdominal exercises in asymptomatic individuals with hyperlordosis

Hyperlordosis is associated with shortened hip flexor muscles, causing low back pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hip flexor stretching with and without abdominal exercises in individuals with hyperlordosis. A total of 30 participants with hyperlordosis, aged between 20 and 30 years, were divided into three groups. Participants in the hold-relax group performed hold-relax stretching for 10 seconds, five repetitions, on both legs. Participants in the abdominal hollowing group performed hold-relax stretching and added an abdominal hollowing exercise for 10 seconds a repetition, 10 repetitions a set for three sets. Participants in the curl-up group performed hold-relax stretching and then performed curl-up exercises for 10 repetitions a set for three sets. The angle of lumbar lordosis, hip muscle length (degrees), percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of transversus abdominis and internal abdominal oblique, external abdominal oblique, rectus abdominis, lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles were investigated at pre-test, post-test and followed up 3 days after the end of the intervention. Significant within-group differences were found in the angle of lumbar lordosis for all groups (P<0.05), muscle length of hip flexor, and percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles in the curl-up group (P<0.05). The significant difference between pre-test and follow up in the hold-relax group and curl-up group reflects the retention of at least 3 days. Hold-relax stretching can reduce the angle of lumbar lordosis and increase hip muscle length. In the curl-up group, the lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles decreased. Therefore, performing curl-up exercises after hold-relax stretching is recommended to decrease the angle of lumbar lordosis and percentage of maximum voluntary contraction of lumbar erector spinae and multifidus muscles.