Is There Therapeutic Evidence for PNF?

고유수용성신경근촉진법의 치료적 근거는?

Purpose: This study aimed to review articles related to PNF and easily provide information to readers who have difficulty reading papers or using PNF in clinics without a background in statistical knowledge. Methods: We used PubMed to collect papers on international studies and we conducted a search on April 28, 2014. Keywords used for the PubMed search were "PNF" and "Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation". The search results identified 765 papers that had been published since 1954. To target the papers for review, we selected 66 papers, excluding papers that were not published in online journals and papers that were written in a second language. Results: The reviewed papers consisted of studies that addressed basic principles and procedures, combined with other interventions, including PNF stretching concepts, and other diseases with PNF concepts. The articles related to basic procedures and principles reported on optimal contraction intensity, patterns, and irradiation. The articles related to stretching and strengthening reported on stretching the hamstring muscles in healthy subjects, in combination with other interventions such as neuromobilization, clinical massage, kinesio taping, and water immersion. The articles related to specific diseases reported on stroke, low back pain, athletic injury, total knee replacement, etc. Conclusion: In the 66 articles reviewed for this study, there was little evidence that PNF has therapeutic value. However, in future research on the application of PNF, investigators could conduct a more in-depth analysis of this topic and present more objective and useful information on the therapeutic benefits of PNF.