• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of applying proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg patterns on the activation of three types of mesogluteal fibers at the opposite side. Methods: The target subjects of this study were 19 healthy men who voluntarily agreed to participate in the program. For all subjects, the following four PNF leg patterns were applied while they were in a standing position, and then, the activation of the gluteus medius at the opposite side was measured: (1) flexion abduction internal rotation pattern, (2) flexion adduction external rotation pattern, (3) extension abduction internal rotation pattern, and (4) extension adduction external rotation pattern. In each position, a pattern was executed three times in 5 s, and the average of each measurement was used for the statistics. Results: Among the PNF leg patterns, the activation of the mesogluteal fibers at the opposite side was most significant under the application of the extension abduction internal rotation pattern. The activation of the back muscular fiber was significantly high under the application of the flexion abduction internal rotation pattern. Conclusion: Selective application of PNF leg patterns can improve the functional activity of each mesogluteal fiber.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of opposite lower extremity lateral muscle activation by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise targeting the lower extremities. Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic hemiplegia volunteered to participate in this study. PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns; initial, end range, and extension patterns; abduction and internal rotation patterns; and initial and end range patterns were applied to the dominant lower extremity. Activation of lateral muscles (multifidus, gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata, and peroneous longus) of the paralyzed leg was then measured by electromyography (EMG). Results: There were significant differences in lateral muscle activation, depending on the PNF pattern applied, with the differences more significant in flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and end range patterns. Conclusion: PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns can improve lateral muscle activation of one leg in the standing position in the gait cycle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of arm flexion patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on muscle activation in the contralateral lower extremity. Open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were used. Methods: This study used an electromyogram (MP150, Biopac Systems, USA) to measure muscle activation in 20 healthy male students. Comparative analysis was completed on muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity. Open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were used with a unilateral arm flexion-abduction-external rotation pattern. Paired t-tests using the SPSS 12.0 for Windows analyzed the data produced by the electromyogram. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in muscle activation in the biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior when the open kinematic chain and closed kinematic chain positions were compared (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles showed greater muscle activation in the closed kinematic chain position when compared to the open kinematic chain position.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of arm leg flexion patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on the muscle activation of the contralateral lower extremity. Methods: In this study, Electromyogram MP150(Biopac system, USA) was applied to 20 healthy male subjects. Unilateral arm flexion- abduction- external rotation pattern and Unilateral leg flexion- adduction- external rotation with knee flexion pattern were applied within mid range of the supine position for measurement. The muscle activation of vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius(medialis) muscle of the contralateral lower extremity were compared and analyzed during the applications. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the muscle activation of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior between the arm and leg patterns(P<0.05). Conclusion: contralateral vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles show the higher muscle activation in the leg pattern than one in the arm pattern.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2008

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg patterns on the muscle activation of neck flexors. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study. Each subject performed bilateral asymmetrical PNF leg patterns against manual resistance under four conditions: through the full range of motion toward the right side, left side, and the end range in the right side, left side. Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles as neck flexors. The root mean square (RMS) value of the SCM was measured and normalized from maximal EMG activity of the SCM. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test and repeated analysis of variance (ANOV A) was used to compare the statistical significance. The results of this study are summarized as follows: Firstly, the RMS values of SCM were significantly higher in all four PNF leg patterns than in the resting condition (p<.05). Secondly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the direction of PNF leg patterns (p>.05). Thirdly, there was no significant difference in muscle activation according to the point of range of the motion of leg patterns (p>.05). It is suggested that PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns have a considerable effect on muscle activation of the SCM, regardless of the range of motion and direction of PNF bilateral asymmetrical leg patterns.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) applied to the unilateral upper extremity on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity. Twenty-two healthy subjects (mean age of 23.7 years) participated in this study. Method : PNF patterns applied on the unilateral upper extremity in all subjects were the flexion/abduction/external rotation and lifting pattern. The hold and appoximation techniques for the irradiation were applied to end range of both patterns. Muscle activations in four patterns were measured in vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius medial muscles of contralateral lower extremity using surface EMG system. Each EMG value in individual muscle was normalized for maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed by one factor analysis of variance with repeated measure test. Result : There were significant differences in the between-subject effect (muscles) and within-subject effect (patterns) in comparison of muscle activation by application of PNF patterns (p<.05). The irradiation led to higher activation in the flexion/abduction/external rotation pattern than that of lifting pattern in all muscles (p<.05). The approximation techniques revealed more activations than these of hold technique in all muscles (p<.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that the application of PNF patterns to the unilateral upper extremity affect on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity and increase according to the intensity of resistance. This mechanism of contralateral effect might provide a help to the development of treatment method for the affected side and functional improvement for the patients who have damages of central nervous system or musculoskeletal problems by orthopedic injury.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.251-262
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• 2008

In this study we investigated the effects of physical therapeutic intervention through electromyography, ultrasonographic imaging and changes of the IL-$1{\beta}$, IGF-1 and IGF-2 in skeletal muscle of rats injured experimentally. The twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the 4 groups: a normal, a control, a low power laser and a neuromuscular electrical stimulation group. Abnormal spontaneous activities had not been shown, both in normal and skeletal muscle injured rats. The maximum diameter of the calf muscle was significantly increased in the low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups compared with control group. The level of the serum IL-$1{\beta}$ was more decreased in the low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups than that of control group. The activation level of the IGF-1 and the IGF-2 were significantly higher in the control, low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups than that of normal group. However, there was no statistically significant difference among the control, low power laser and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of close kinetic chain(CKC) and open kinetic chain(OKC) posion on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation applied to the unilateral upper extremity on the muscle activation of lower extremity. All subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: open kinetic chain group(n=5),closed kinetic chain group(n=5). All participants were PNF patterns applied on the unilateral upper extremity in all subjects were the kinetic chain(CKC) and open kinetic chain(OKC) posion on flexion/abduction/external rotation. The hold and approximation techniques for the irradiation were applied to end range. All measurements for each subject took the following tests: pre-test, post - test in 4weeks, post-testin 8weeks. EMG data was collected from the vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius muscle of both lower extreamity using surface EMG system, Each EMG value in individual muscle was normalized for maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed using Two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) with repeated measures to determine the statistical significances. The results of this study are summarized as follows. First, during for close kinetic chain(CKC) and open kinetic chain(OKC) posion on PNF pattern application, all of the %MVIC values of close kinetic chain and open kinetic chain posion increased sign ificantly compared(p<0.05). Second, The close kinetic chain(CKC) and open kinetic chain(OKC) posion on PNF pattern application was significantly increased with in the intervention period(p<.05). Third, there was a no significant open kinetic chain posion on PNF pattern application of sing muscle group with in the intervention period.(p<0.05) there was a significant close kinetic chain posion on PNF pattern application of sing muscle group with with in the intervention period(p<0.05). Forth, interaction of the exercise position and muscle was also significant. Post-hoc tests revealed that the activation levels of vastus medialis muscle and tibialis anterior muscle was higher in the closed kinetic chain position(p<.05). that the activation levels of vastus medialis and gastrocnemius muscle was higher in the open kinetic chain position(p<.05). In conclusion, it was found that the application of PNF patterns to the unilateral upper extremity effect on the muscle activation of lower extremity and both open kinetic chain exercise and closed kinetic chain exercise was significantly increased muscle activity. Further studies are needed to analyzed long term effects and subjects resulting from these changed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.197-203
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate useful manual therapy techniques for peripheral facial nerve palsy and to propose guidelines to be applied for current manual therapy techniques. Several databases were searched to find manual therapies for facial palsy. These therapies included cervical, and temporomandibular joint chuna manual therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, neuromuscular re-education, facial exercise, and mime therapy. Both cervical, and temporomandibular joint chuna manual therapy release nerve compression, helping blood circulation and nerve conduction. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation uses irradiation, bilateral activation, and eccentric facilitation to improve muscle power and symmetry. Neuromuscular re-education, as a retraining tool for facial movement patterns, enhances neuromuscular feedback. Facial exercise helps the patient continuously move and massage facial muscle themselves. Mime therapy aims to develop a conscious connection between the use of certain muscles and facial expressions. The use of facial chuna manual therapy for peripheral facial nerve palsy can stimulate the proprioceptive neuromuscular receptors in the face. Peripheral facial nerve palsy has 4 phases; progress phase, plateau phase, recovery phase, and sequelae phase. Each phase needs different treatments which include relaxation, assistance, resistance, origin-insertion extension, and nerve pathway expansion.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.285-293
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to confirm that the activation of the contralateral muscles changes according to posture after applying the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation leg pattern. Methods: Ten healthy adults (four males and six females) with no history of current musculoskeletal/neurological injuries were recruited for this study. Abdominal muscle (transverse abdominis) and hip joint muscle (gluteus maximus and gluteus medius) activation was assessed using surface electromyography (Ultium EMG, Noraxon Inc., USA). We evaluated muscle activation during the application of the PNF leg pattern. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0 program. Results: The results were found to be statistically significantly different in the 90/90 supine posture and sitting posture for the gluteus maximus (p < 0.05). The results were found to be not statistically significantly different for the transverse abdominis according to posture (p > 0.05). The results were found to be not statistically significantly different for the gluteus medius according to posture (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Application of the PNF leg pattern resulted in a significant change in the muscle activation of the contralateral segment according to posture, and the 90/90 supine posture induced high muscle activation of the gluteus maximus. In addition, the activation of the transverse abdominis was high in all three postures.