Background: The ability of an individual to move smoothly depends on his flexibility, an attribute that enhances both safety and optimal physical activities. The hamstrings are example of muscle groups that have a tendency to shorten. Purpose: To compare the efficacy of superficial and deep heating modalities in the management of hamstring flexibility among football players Methods: A total of 60 football players, aged 18-26 years were recruited by the simple random sampling to participate in this two group pretest-posttest, single blinded randomized clinical study. Recruited football players were randomly allocated into two groups, group A and group B. Group A received superficial heating for 20 minutes on hamstring muscles by hydrocollator packs (moist heat packs). While in group B received deep heating for hamstring muscles through the short wave diathermy for 20 minutes. Then both the groups received static stretching for 30 seconds duration x 5 repetition/session x 2 days. Difference in range of motion (ROM) in knee extension from 90-90 position, pre-post intervention were used for analysis. Results: Both group A and Group B demonstrated significance difference (p<0.05) in ROM. Conclusion: Two session of static stretching after the application of superficial and deep heating modalities to hamstring muscles have no difference in flexibility among the elite football players.

Keywords: Diathermy; Football; Hamstring Muscles; Heating; Pliability; Soccer