ABSTRACT

Background: Football players are susceptible to musculoskeletal problems, particularly in the lower limbs, because the sport demands a lot of speed, strength, and agility. About 17% of football- related injuries are hamstring strains, which are frequently associated with tight muscles and limited flexibility. When sprinting, the hamstrings are under a lot of strain, particularly during the terminal swing phase when they have to contract eccentrically. DSTM targets tense muscles by combining massage and movement, while SMFR (using foam rollers) promotes blood flow and lessens fascial limitations. These techniques might enhance performance and flexibility. This study examines how they affect collegiate football players' hamstring function and flexibility. Methodology: A comparative study was conducted on 44 male college football players aged 20– 28 years with hamstring tightness (<20° AKE). Participants were randomly assigned to Group A(DSTM) or Group B (Foam Rolling), receiving interventions 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The AKE test was used as the outcome measure. Statistical analysis included paired and independent t-tests with significance set at p<0.05. Result: Both groups showed significant improvement in hamstring flexibility. Group A (DSTM) had a mean improvement of 3.2° (9.8%), while Group B (FR) showed a higher improvement of 5.1° (15.4%) with a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Conclusion: Both DSTM and Foam Rolling are effective in improving hamstring flexibility. However, Foam Rolling is more effective and can be recommended as a preferred intervention for enhancing flexibility in collegiate football players. Keywords: Flexibility, Hamstring muscle tightness, Foam roller, Dynamic soft tissue mobilization, Footballer
Publication date: 01/06/2026

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/June/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10284.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.6.10284