• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.217-224
• /
• 2024

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to apply IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and static stretching (SS) to people who have limited range of motion in dorsiflexion due to a shortened gastrocnemius muscle. When applying the above three techniques, we aimed to confirm immediate changes in the dorsiflexion angle at the ankle joint and the muscle tone of the gastrocnemius muscles. Methods : Twenty subjects received all three interventions and participated in the experiment in random order at two-week intervals. All interventions were applied in 3 repetitions. The evaluations were ROM (range of motion) in dorsiflexion of the ankle joint and muscle tension of the gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles, each measured before the intervention and immediately after three repetitions, for a total of four measurements. All measured data were comparatively analyzed using one-way ANOVA for comparison between groups, and one-way repeated measures ANOVA for comparison between repeated measures. Results : The ROM of ankle joint dorsiflexion showed significant differences between repetitions, in all interventions (p<.05), but did not show significant differences between groups (p>.05). The muscle tone of gastrocnemius medialis showed significant differences between repetitions, in all interventions (p<.05), but did not show significant differences between groups (p>.05). The muscle tone of gastrocnemius lateralis showed significant differences between repetitions, in all interventions (p<.05), and significant differences between groups were seen only in repetitions, 1 and 2 (p>.05). Conclusion : The results of this study showed that all three interventions increased ROM of dorsiflexion and reduced muscle tone of gastrocnemius. Therefore, it was found that both IASTM, PNF, and SS were effective interventions for limited range of motion of dorsiflexion, and in particular, IASTM and PNF were more effective in reducing calf muscle tone.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.185-193
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neck patterns in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for neck movement and the neck disability index (NDI) among adults with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects were randomly assigned into two groups. Subjects in the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise group (PNFG, n = 20) received 20 minutes of PNF neck pattern (flexion-Rt. lateral flexion-Rt. rotation followed by extension-Lt. lateral flexion-Lt. rotation) 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcomes were measured using absolute rotation angle (ARA), anterior weight bearing (AWB), range of flexion and extension motions (RFEM), and neck disability index (NDI) methods before and after the 4-week intervention period. Results: There were significant effects for the PNFG, pre- and post-intervention, in ARA, AWB, RFEM, and NDI. There were significant differences in ARA, AWB, RFEM, and NDI compared with CG. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the PNF neck pattern could be beneficial for adults with forward head posture.Purpose: This study investigates how abdominal muscular exercise based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can affect chronic low back pain patients in terms of their pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes. Methods: Fourteen target subjects with chronic low back were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 7) that performed abdominal muscle exercises and the experimental group (n = 7) that performed PNF abdominal muscular exercises. The exercises were performed five times a week for six weeks. To check the change in pulmonary function, the forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) and visible analogue scale (VAS) were measured to check the pain level. The disability level caused by back pain was measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). A paired t-test was applied to compare the differences between the groups before and after the intervention, and an independent t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set as ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: Before and after the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant change in FEV1 (p < 0.01), and both the experimental and the control groups showed significant changes in VAS and ODI (p < 0.01). A comparison of the differences between the groups indicated that the experimental group showed more significant changes in FEV1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the study results, PNF abdominal muscular exercise effectively improved pulmonary function, pain, and functional disability indexes in subjects with chronic back pain. The proposed program can be applied to chronic back pain patients as a useful therapy.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study attempts to identify the effects of abdominal strength training using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the balance ability and pain level of patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: A total of 30 patients with chronic lower back pain were randomly divided into either experimental group I (n=10), who received abdominal strength training using PNF, experimental group II (n=10), who received abdominal strengthening training, or the control group (n=10), who received conventional physiotherapy. The interventions were applied three times a week for six weeks. We measured Berg's balance scale (BBS) in order to investigate the change in balance ability, while we measured the visible analogue scale (VAS) to determine the severity of pain. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group change before and after the intervention. For the comparison of the between-group difference, we used a one-way ANOVA test. Tukey's test was used as a post hoc test. The statistical significance level was set at ${\alpha}=0.05$ for all the variables. Results: Experimental group I and experimental group II showed a significant within-group change in BBS (p<0.01). A statistically significant between-group difference was observed in terms of the change in BBS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, experimental group I and experimental group II showed a more effective change in BBS than the control group. Experimental group I, experimental group II, and the control group all showed a significant within-group change in the VAS (p<0.01). There was a statistically significant between-group difference in terms of the change in the VAS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, the change in the VAS was more effective in experimental group I than in experimental group II and the control group. Conclusion: In this study, the application of abdominal strength training using PNF for subjects who complained of chronic lower back pain proved effective in improving their balance ability and reducing pain. We therefore believe that this training method could be applied as a useful program for patients with chronic lower back pain.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of direct and indirect methods of contract-relax techniques in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching for improving hamstring flexibility. Methods: Twenty-six subjects were randomly assigned to either a direct contract-relax technique group or an indirect contract-relax group. For each group, stretching intervention was performed three times a week for a period of two weeks, with 12 seconds for the contraction and 10 seconds for the relaxation per once. The direct contract-relax technique for hamstring flexibility was applied by asking the subject to press down on the shoulder of the trainer in the straight leg-raising position. Conversely, the indirect contract-relax technique was performed by raising the leg with resistance. To facilitate a comparative analysis of hamstring flexibility between the two groups before and after the stretching intervention, two-way repeated ANOVA was performed. Hamstring flexibility for each group was measured using a passive straight leg-raising test. Results: The results showed significant improvement in hamstring flexibility for all subjects in the two groups. However, there was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, both direct and indirect contract-relax techniques are confirmed to be useful for improving hamstring flexibility. The choice of suitable technique has to be made individually according to the condition of each subject.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine whether PNF respiratory exercise increases the vital capacity and maximal voluntary volume of 20s normal adults by 45° leaning sitting position. Twenty normal adults in their 20s were randomly assigned to an experimental group and control group. Over the course of four weeks, the experimental group participated in PNF respiration exercises by 45° leaning position for 30 minutes three per week. And the control group participated in diaphragm respiration exercises by 45° leaning position for 30 minutes three times per week. Subjects were assessed post-test by measurement of vital capacity, maximal voluntary volume. Our findings show that the experimental group had significant improvements in vital capacity, maximal voluntary volume(p<.05). In this study, the experimental group showed more improvement in pulmonary function, which indicates that the PNF respiratory exercise by 45° leaning sitting position is effective at increasing the pulmonary function of normal adults.