• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제14권3호
• /
• 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
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• 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
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• 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.

• 한국융합학회논문지
• /
• 제11권5호
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2020

본 연구의 목적은 20대 대학생들을 대상으로 45도 기대어 앉은 자세에서 실시한 PNF호흡운동을 통해 폐활량과 최대환기량에 미치는 영향을 알아보았다. 대상자는 20대 대학생 정상인 20명을 실험군 10명과 대조군 10명으로 동공처리방식으로 배치하였다. 실험은 4주간 실시하였는데 이때 1주일에 3회로, 1회 30분씩 실시하였다. 실험방법으로 실험군은 45도 기대어 앉은 자세에서 PNF를 적용한 호흡운동을 30분간 실시하였고 대조군은 45도 기대어 앉은 자세에서 횡격막호흡운동을 30분간 실시하였다. 실험대상자들은 실험 전과 후에 폐활량측정기로 폐활량과 최대환기량을 측정하여 기록을 분석하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 실험군이 대조군보다 폐활량, 최대환기량에서 유의한 증가가 나타났다(p<.05). 결과를 통해 45도 기대어 앉은 자세에서 PNF를 이용한 호흡운동을 실시 할 때 실험자의 수기로 인한 적절한 저항을 적용하는 PNF패턴이 이완성 호흡을 중시하는 횡격막호흡운동보다 더 크게 호흡능력의 증가가 나타난 것으로 사료된다.