Comparison of the immediate effects of different stretching methods for the pectoralis minor muscle in individuals with shoulder protraction

Aims: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of different stretching methods for the pectoralis minor (PM) muscle on acromial distance (AD), pectoralis minor length, Pectoralis Minor Index (PMI) and scapular upward rotation (SUR) in individuals with shoulder protraction. Methods: The study included 12 individuals with shoulder protraction. Manual stretching, unilateral corner stretching and modified contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching were applied to the PM muscle in a single session randomly. Before and after stretching, AD, PM muscle length, PMI and SUR were recorded. Results: It was determined that three stretching methods improved the AD, PM length and PMI values (p<0.05), modified contract-relax PNF stretching method was superior to unilateral corner stretching (p<0.05). In addition, it was determined that all three stretching methods had no effect on SUR values (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to these results, adding any of the manual stretching, unilateral corner stretching or modified contract-relax PNF stretching methods for the PM muscle to the shoulder protraction treatment program may optimize the AD, PM length and PMI values affecting the scapular position. Especially, modified contract-relax PNF stretching technique is more effective than unilateral corner stretching. Therefore, it is recommended that the first preferred stretching method should be modified contract-relax PNF stretching for shoulder protraction treatment program.