Hamstring Flexibility and Dynamic Postural Stability in Adult Males: A Comparative Analysis Based on Salah Practice Regularity

Abstract

Background: Daily Islamic prayer (Salah) involves a sequence of whole-body postural movements repeated multiple times each day. Although it is among the most widely observed religious practices globally, its quantifiable contribution to physical fitness domains such as posterior chain extensibility and dynamic stability has not been thoroughly examined through objective instrumentation.

Objectives: To determine whether regular participation in Salah is associated with measurable differences in hamstring flexibility and dynamic balance when compared with infrequent performers, using field-validated clinical tools.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional investigation enrolled 30 adult males (aged 18-40 years) through purposive sampling. Participants were allocated equally to Group A (regular performers, n=15; completing all five daily prayers for a minimum of one year) and Group B (irregular performers, n=15; completing fewer than three prayers daily). Hamstring flexibility was evaluated with the V-Sit and Reach Test (cm) and dynamic balance was evaluated with the Y-Balance Test (YBT), normalised to limb length and expressed as a composite percentage. Independent samples t-tests were applied for between-group comparison (α=0.05).

Results: Group A demonstrated meaningfully higher V-Sit and Reach scores (32.4±3.1 cm vs. 24.7±3.8 cm; t(28)=6.43, p<0.001; Cohen's d=2.23) and composite YBT scores (89.6±4.2% vs. 79.3±5.1%; t(28)=6.47, p<0.001; Cohen's d=2.24) relative to Group B. Statistically significant advantages for Group A were likewise found across all three YBT directional reach scores (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Consistent Salah practice among adult males appears independently associated with superior posterior chain flexibility and dynamic postural control. The magnitude of the observed differences is clinically relevant, lending support to Salah-based movement as a culturally embedded physical activity with genuine musculoskeletal health benefits, particularly within Muslim communities.

Keywords: Salah; Islamic Prayer; Hamstring Extensibility; Dynamic Balance; Y-Balance Test; V-Sit and Reach; Musculoskeletal Health; Proprioception

Citation

Muthukrishnan P. Hamstring Flexibility and Dynamic Postural Stability in Adult Males: A Comparative Analysis Based on Salah Practice Regularity. WebLog J Musculoskelet Disord. wjmd.2026. h1009. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22069793