Effect of Application Methods of Stretching Exercise on Angular Variation and Muscle Activation Changes in the Hallux Valgus

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to effect of application methods of stretching exercise on angular variation and muscle activation changes in the hallux valgus. Method : This study was performed on twenty subjects. Twenty subjects were divided into two groups; Agonist Contraction(AC)(n=10), Hold-relax with Agonist Contraction(HR-AC)(n=10). Both of the group performed the exercise 5 times a week for 6 weeks. The data was analyzed by the paired t-test for comparing before and after changes of factors in each group and the independent t-test for comparing the between groups. Result : In the within group comparisons, HR-AC group abductor hallucis muscle activity showed significant difference between before and after the intervention(p<0.01). And all the two groups, there were significant decreased in hallux valgus angle(p<0.01). In the comparison of the two groups, there were significant difference among the two groups in abductor hallucis muscle activity(p<0.01). Conclusion : The findings of this study, we found that the HR-AC technique were more effective than AC technique in increase in abductor hallucis muscle activity.