Comparable Immediate Effects of Static and Neurodynamic Gliding Stretching on Mechanical Properties and Flexibility in Young Women With Hamstring Tightness

Abstract Background: Neurodynamic gliding (NG) is a therapeutic technique used to reduce neural mechanosensitivity, particularly in the sciatic nerve, which is often implicated in hamstring tightness. This study investigated the immediate effects of a single session of NG or static stretching (SS) on fascicle length (FL), flexibility, and tissue stiffness in young women with hamstring tightness.Methods: Twenty female participants (age: 20.7 ± 2.1 years) with clinically defined hamstring tightness completed a randomized crossover trial involving three conditions: NG, SS, and a control with 1–2 days apart. Assessments included FL, straight leg raise (SLR), and shear modulus of target tissues, measured before and immediately after each intervention.Results: Both NG and SS produced significant acute increases in SLR (mean increase: 4.3° [d = 1.14] for NG and 5.2° [d = 1.24] for SS; p < 0.001). FL significantly increased following both interventions (p < 0.05). NG resulted in substantial reductions in shear modulus across the fascia, tibial nerve (TN), and biceps femoris muscle and tendon. SS also reduced stiffness in these tissues, except for the TN. However, no significant differences were observed between NG and SS across any of the measured variables.Conclusion: While both NG and SS significantly reduced stiffness in muscle and fascia, only NG significantly reduced tibial nerve stiffness, indicating a unique neural adaptation. These findings suggest that NG may be particularly beneficial when targeting neural tissue involvement in hamstring tightness, while SS remains equally effective for muscular flexibility improvements.