• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training and robot rehabilitation training on trunk stability and standing balance in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: There were 30 patients with chronic stroke, divided into two groups: 15 subjects who received PNF and robot training (the experimental group) and 15 subjects who received standard conservative training (the control group), that participated. The experimental group received treatment for 60 min: 30 min of conventional physical therapy, 15 min of PNF training, and 15 min of robot training. The control group received conventional physical therapy for 60 min. Trunk stabilization (trunk impairment scale) and standing balance (center of pressure, limit of stability, modified functional reach test, and Berg balance scale) were measured before and after intervention. Results: Within each group, both the experimental and control groups significantly improved after the intervention in all tests; however, the experimental group showed greater improvement in scores on the trunk impairment scale, the center of pressure, the limit of stability, the modified functional reach test, and the Berg balance scale. Conclusion: The study verified that PNF training and robot training had a positive influence on trunk stability and standing balance indices in patients with chronic stroke.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to determine the correlation between the effects of contract-relax-antagonist-contract (CRAC) and contract-relax (CR) forms of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on balance during single-leg standing in elderly people. Methods: The participants were 20 elderly people in healthy condition and divided equally into two groups: the CRAC stretching group and the CR stretching group. Subjects were made to walk on a treadmill for 6 minutes before the stretching as a warm-up. CR and CRAC stretching were performed on the soleus. The dependent variables used to assess single-leg standing balance were overall stability(OSI), anterior/posterior(A/P) movement, and medial/lateral(M/L) movement. The statistical methods used to assess the differences between groups were verified using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The CRAC group had significantly increased OSI, A/P and M/L after the PNF stretching intervention (p < 0.05). The CR group had significantly increased OSI and A/P after the PNF stretching intervention (p < 0.05), but M/L did not significantly increase (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in stretching between CRAC and CR (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that CR and CRAC PNF stretching improved single-leg standing balance. CARC stretching before exercise is helpful for elderly people, as it improves balance.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.165-172
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• 2021

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training on Gait. We included all randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training on gait ability control in patients after stroke. This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. CINAHL, PubMed and RISS were searched for studies published up to December 2020, and all randomized controlled trails assessing PNF intervention were included. This analysis included only randomized controlled trials. A total of 12 studies were selected from 1475 records obtained from the databases. The meta-analysis was performed using the R software. The overall intervention effect was moderate (standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50-0.84). Additionally, Gait rite (SMD: 0.69), 10m walking test (SMD: 0.59) had medium effect sizes. These findings indicate that PNF is an effective intervention for improving gait ability in patients stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Intervention strategy applied International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Tool about strength, range of motion, scapular stability, pain and function of shoulder for patients with adhesive capsulitis. METHODS: The data was collected by patient with adhesive capsulitis. The patient was a 50-year-old male diagnosed with right shoulder with adhesive capsulitis. We applied the PNF Intervention strategy applied ICF Tool to patient with adhesive capsulitis. PNF interventions were consisting of such as combination of isotonic and stabilizing reversal technique and various positions. PNF interventions were applied, such as those aiming at decreasing pain and disability and increasing range of motion and function for the four weeks. Parameters of result were collected for strength, range of motion, scapular stability, pain and function of shoulder using the hand held dynamometer, goniometer, lateral scapula slide test, and shoulder pain and disability index, respectively. RESULTS: Clinical benefits were observed the patient with adhesive capsulitis for strength, range of motion, scapular stability, pain, and function of shoulder. The patient with adhesive capsulitis improved strength, range of motion, scapular stability, pain, and function of shoulder. CONCLUSION: Patient reported improved strength, range of motion, scapular stability, pain, and function of shoulder after intervention.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training and respiratory muscle endurance training on pulmonary function and activity in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The participants were 25 chronic stroke patients. They were assigned to two groups: a PNF and respiratory muscle training group (experimental group; n = 12) and a conservative training group (control group; n = 13). The experimental group completed 50 minutes (30 minutes of conventional physical therapy, 10 minutes of PNF training, and 10 minutes of respiratory muscle endurance training). The control group also completed 50 minutes (30 minutes of conventional physical therapy and 20 minutes on a full-body workout machine). Pulmonary function and activity were measured before and after the intervention, using Cosmed to analyze pulmonary function and 6MWT as clinical evaluation indicators. Results: Both groups showed significant within-group differences on all tests before and after the intervention; the experimental group showed greater improvement on all tests. Conclusion: The findings confirm that PNF training and respiratory muscle endurance training have a positive effect on pulmonary function and activity index in chronic stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of a gait training using PNF on a gait and balance ability of a person with chronic stroke. Methods : The subject was left hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction. The subject participated in PNF gait training session as well as baseline for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks. we used the 10-meter walking test(10MWT), figure-8-of walk test(F8WT), dynamic gait index(DGI) for measuring the gait ability and four square step test(FSST), Berg balance scale(BBS) for measuring the balance ability through the whole sessions. Results : The gait ability was enhanced compared to first baseline, as measured by 10MWT(27.3%), F8WT(36.6%), DGI(8 points increased). The balance ability was improved compared to first baseline, as measured by FSST(49.1%), BBS(10 points increased). The increase was maintained in second baseline session. Conclusion : The PNF gait training program is helpful to enhance the adaptation of the gait and balance according to the various environmental demands.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to use an ICF tool in an intervention for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients to examine and evaluate the patients' functional problems, measure the results of the intervention, and present the process of preparing proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) intervention strategies, thereby contributing to changes in and development of relevant future clinical practices. Methods: A PNF rehabilitation exercise program using an ICF tool was applied to ACLR patients five times per week for four weeks. To measure the resulting changes, the ICF evaluation display, the visual analog scale (VAS), the manual muscle test (MMT), the range of motion (ROM) test, the Lysholm knee score (LKS), and the muscle endurance test (MET) were used. Results: After the intervention was applied to the ACLR patients, improvements were achieved in all the tests: ICF evaluation display, VAS, MMT, ROM, LKS, and MET. Conclusion: Utilizing the ICF tool, this study identified functional problems of ACLR patients. When the intervention was applied, physical functions improved, and structural damage was reduced, leading to enhanced levels of functional activities such as postural changes, posture maintenance, gait, movements, and movements between different places. The patients were able to complete the teacher training, which was their goal.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) relaxation technique (hold relax; HR, contract relax; CR) and static stretch (SS) on hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performance in healthy adults over a four-week period. Methods: Twenty-four healthy adults volunteered to participate in PNF and static stretch sessions. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: 8 subjects in the SS group, 8 subjects in the HR group, and 8 subjects in the CR group. In the HR and CR groups, contractions lasted 15 seconds per trial and consisted of 5 sets of 15 seconds of hamstring contraction immediately followed by 15 seconds of passive static hamstring stretching. For the static group, the participants were asked to stretch by hanging a leg over a table for 30 seconds. Subjects in all groups performed the exercises three days per week for 4 weeks. The active straight leg raising (ASLR) test, active knee extension (AKE) test, and vertical jump test were performed before the intervention and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Results: The SS, HR, and CR techniques effected positive improvement in hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performances but neither of the stretching methods had any statistically significant different effects according to group, although there were interactions (between group and time) in the ALSR group from 1 week to 2 week and in the AKE test from pretest to 1 week. Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, SS, HR, and CR were shown to affect hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performance in healthy adults. In particular, it was determined that within a short period, hamstring flexibility could be attributed more to CR than to SS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of the chopping pattern of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the neglect, balance ability, and activities of daily living in stroke patients with hemi-spatial neglect. METHODS: Twenty stroke patients with neglect volunteered for this study. The subjects were assigned randomly to either the experimental group (EG, n=10) or control group (CG, n=10). The chopping pattern of PNF and exercise therapy were applied in the EG and CG, respectively, for four weeks. Neglect, balance, and activities of daily living were evaluated at the pre-and post-intervention. The assessment tools included a line-bisection test, balance test using Space balance 3D, and modified Barthel index. The pre-and post-intervention values were compared in each group using a paired t-test and the between-group differences were assessed using an independent t-test. Statistical significance was set to ${\alpha}=.05$ for all variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the EG and CG in terms of neglect, balance, and activities of daily living (p<.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in neglect, balance, and activities of daily living (p<.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the chopping pattern of PNF is effective in improving the hemi-spatial neglect, balance, and activities of daily living in stroke patients with neglect.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify functional problems, including walking ability, of patients with strokes using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and to present a method that could solve functional problems, thereby determining the applicability of the ICF to increase the quality of evaluation and intervention in clinical fields in the future. Methods: Information on stroke patients who were admitted and treated in a hospital was collected. The authors conducted evaluations, interventions, and measurements of the results of the ICF tool in order to improve gait abilities of patients. The subjects were trained using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) one hour a day and five times a week for four weeks. The result measurement variables were a six-minute gait test, 10 m velocity test, gait instability test, and measurements using the ICF sheet. Results: In the six-minute gait test, gait distance increased by 48 m, from 102 m to 150 m. The gait velocity test result showed an improvement from 0.36m/s to 0.44m/s. The subjects performed a gait instabilitytestwithacupfilledwith50mmwater. In the gait instability test, the amount of water was 38 mm before the intervention; however, it was 50 mm after the intervention. The gait velocity with a cup filled with water improved from 0.25m/s to 0.31m/s. Conclusion: An evaluation and intervention were designed with the ICF tool for stroke patients. Gait abilities improved when the PNF technique was used. The IFC method can be used for evaluation and intervention, and it could help improve gait abilities of stroke patients.