ABSTRACT

Introduction: Fast bowlers in cricket often face musculoskeletal issues, particularly with the quadratus lumborum, a key muscle for stability and movement control. Tightness in the QL can cause discomfort, reduced performance, and injury risk. Therapies like Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Positional Release Technique (PRT) help relieve tension. MET uses voluntary muscle contraction to aid stretching, while PRT applies manual pressure for muscle relaxation. These methods, combined with stretching, enhance flexibility and reduce tightness. Methodology: This experimental study divided 30 subjects into two groups: Group A (Stretching with MET) and Group B (Stretching with PRT), each with 15 participants. Outcome measures included Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRPS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), lumbar range of motion (Modified Schober’s Test), and hip flexion/abduction range. A tailored 4-week treatment protocol was implemented for each group. Results: In the paired sample t-test, P < 0.001, indicating high statistical significance within both groups (pre to post). Between Group A and B, analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Conclusion: For fast bowlers with low back pain due to quadratus lumborum tightness, both MET and PRT with stretching effectively reduced discomfort and improved lumbar mobility. MET showed slightly greater improvement, making it ideal for urgent relief, while PRT is beneficial for gentler, passive intervention. Keywords: musculoskeletal, quadratus lumborum tightness, Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Positional Release Technique (PRT)
Publication date: 01/06/2026

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/June/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10249.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.6.10249