OBJECTIVES: To compare the objective and subjective efficacy of three treatments on acute hip-flexion range of motion (ROM). DESIGN: Assessor-blind, randomized within-subject cross-over. SETTING: University athletic training clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two female collegiate lacrosse and soccer athletes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The passive straight-leg-raise (PSLR) was used to measure acute hip-flexion ROM pre- and post foam rolling (FR), superficial heating (SH), combination (SH+FR) and control treatments. A seven-point Likert scale statement measured the perceived effectiveness of each treatment. RESULTS: Superficial heat (+10.4%, ES 0.78), FR (+7.26%, ES 0.52), and SH+FR treatment (+12.9%, ES 1.26) improved hip ROM when compared to the control (+.4%, ES 0.24) (all p < 0.001). The SH+FR treatment resulted in a greater improvement in hip ROM compared to FR (p = 0.001, ES 0.95), whereas no significant difference was observed between the SH and FR (p = 0.083, ES 0.68) or SH and SH+FR treatment (p = 0.270, ES 0.43). SH+FR was perceived as more effective than FR (p = 0.033, ES 1.21), but not SH (p = 0.193, ES 0.63). However, only a moderately positive correlation (r = 0.508) between objective and subjective measures of hamstring flexibility was found. CONCLUSIONS: All treatments significantly improve hamstring flexibility with SH+FR being the most effective. Rehabilitation professionals should practice caution when relying on athlete perception and should prescribe treatments on an individual basis.

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