• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on gait speed in a stroke patient with genu recurvatum. Methods: The subject was a 52-year-old female diagnosed with stroke. Information on health was collected through client Interview based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The ICF was used to identify connections between functional problems, and for diagnosis, and functional problems were described using ICF terms. For prognostic purposes, comprehensive goals for functional activity and participation level are presented as long- and short-term goals. Intervention was performed using an exercise program composed of techniques and principles based on PNF concepts for 50 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for 6 weeks. Gait speed and lower limb strength before to after intervention differences were used as study outcomes. Results: Clinical advantages were observed in body function (3.6kg increase in knee extension strength, 1.4kg increase in knee flexion strength, 0.9kg increase in hip abduction). Gait speed, which was the patient's primary limitation, was improved by 0.2m/sec. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, application of the PNF concept would appear to improve gait speed and genu recurvatum in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.73-88
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out The effect of Low back pain on the total pattens of Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF). Methods : The subjects of the study were 62 low back pain patients. They were divided into two groups: 31 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group. the experimental group performed modalities and PNF total patterns three times for a week. the control group performed only modalities and ROM exercise three times for a week. Back muscle strength was measured by a back muscle strength measuring machine, the intensity of pain was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the level of disability was measured by Oswestry low back pain disability index. Study measurements were compared before and after 6 weeks exercise program. The two groups of subjects were assessed by utilizing two different balance measurement: Static standing balance was measured by balance performance monitor (BPM) and Dynamic standing balance was measured by one leg standing(OLS). The scale for static standing balance was measured by using, sway area, sway path, max velocity. Results : The results of this study were as follow: 1) The score on visual analogue scale shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 2) The score on Oswestry low back pain disability index. shows statistically significant decrease on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 3) The change sway area was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 4) The change sway path was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 5) The change max velocity was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 6) The score on one leg standing shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). Conclusion : These results of this study indicated that Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Total patterns which performed for six weeks had a statistically significant influence on low back pain. If the exercise for muscle strength is performed along with therapeutic stabilizing exercise, a better effect can be expected on low back pain. We hope that this study will provide a basic data for further research with a bigger group and on a long-term effect.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short neck flexor strengthening in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on swallowing function in patients with chronic stroke and to provide basic data for swallowing rehabilitation in stroke patients. Method : The study involved 30 chronic stroke patients who visited ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ General Hospital in Daegu Metropolitan City between March and July, 2017. The subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). Both groups underwent traditional swallowing rehabilitation therapy for 30 minutes five times a week over a six-week period. The experimental group performed short neck flexor exercises, which are part of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, for 30 minutes three times a week over a six-week period. The control group performed neuromuscular electrical stimulation for 30 minutes three times a week over a six-week period. Based on its results, changes in the patients' swallowing function and degree of food intake were analyzed. Result : In terms of the ASHA NOMS scale and new VFSS scale, the experimental group and the control group showed statistically significant changes in ten sub-items and six sub-items, respectively. Statistically significant differences in one sub-item were found between the groups. Conclusion : PNF-based short neck flexion exercise appear to be effective at improving swallowing function of stroke patients with dysphagia.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2005

Purpose : To describes the important aspects of scapular movement and function used when applying PNF technique to the upper limb and scapular. Method : The scapular was a very important roles in the upper limb movement. This study summarizes the physiologic movement of scapular to the PNF upper extremity patterns or scapular patterns. Result : The shoulder joint has the most freedom of range of motion in the human body, composed of the glenohumeral joint, the subacromial joint, the acromioclavical joint, the sternoclavicular joint, the scapulothoracic joint, the costosternal joint, and the costovertebral joint. During upper limb movement, the scapular position change at the sternoclavicular joint and the acromioclavical joint. This concerted motion was characterized by scapulohumeral rhythm. In clinical situations, it is import to understand factors affect the scapulohumeral rhythm so that optimal evaluation and therapeutic intervention can be devised. Conclusions : The scapular movement depend on the proper and coordinated contraction of muscles. Physical therapists need to understand the normal scapular movement relationships of the scapulohumeral rhythm under different interventions for PNF techniques application.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.203-213
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• 2015

Purpose: Deficits in lower-extremity function and trunk control ability have a negative impact on individuals with hemiplegia. This case report aimed to describe the effect of trunk stability exercises using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on trunk control ability, balance, and gait in a patient with hemiplegia. Methods: A 77-year-old man with hemiplegia and trunk and lower extremity impairment participated in this four-week training intervention. Results: The patient demonstrated improvements in trunk control ability, balance, and gait performance. Outcome measures (Fugl-Meyer Assessment Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), Trunk Control Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, 10 Meter Walk test) were measured before and after the training program. Conclusion: The results of this case suggest that a trunk stability exercise using a PNF program may improve trunk control ability, balance, and gait in a patient with hemiplegia.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.105-112
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) wrist taping, after the application of a rhythmic stabilization (RS) technique, on the decrease of pain and the increase of grip strength in physical therapists who complained of wrist pain and to provide basic data on interventions for wrist pain patients. Methods: The subjects were 15 peoples in their 20s who complained of pain with a visual analogue scale (VAS) at five points or higher due to overuse of their wrists. They were randomly assigned to a control group, to which PNF wrist taping was applied after stretching (n=7), or to an experimental group (n=8), to which PNF wrist taping was applied after application of the RS technique of PNF. The experiment was conducted for four weeks, five times per week. VAS was measured in order to measure pain decrease, and grip strength (GS) was measured using a dynamometer. In order to compare within-group differences before and after the intervention, a paired t-test was performed, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used. All statistically significant levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences in changes of VAS and GS within each group before and after the intervention (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study applied PNF wrist taping after the application of stretching or PNF RS to patients who complained of pain beyond a sense of discomfort; these interventions resulted in a decrease in pain and an increase in the grip strength of the subjects. Taping and therapeutic techniques using PNF are considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve wrist pain patients' pain and grip strength.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the simultaneous abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on the muscle activity of the ipsilateral trunk and leg during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) leg flexion, adduction, and external rotation with knee flexion (D1) patterns. Methods: The participants were 20 healthy adult males and females (18 males and 2 females). The maneuvers were performed by a physical therapist who fully understands the PNF leg patterns (D1) and their application in clinical practice. The participants were trained and allowed to practice for 15 minutes prior to applying ADIM, to ensure adequate learning as evidenced by the pressure biofeedback unit. In this study, we measured the muscle activity of the trunk and leg when the PNF leg pattern (D1) was performed by the physical therapist either sustaining or releasing the ADIM. Muscle activity was measured on the right transverse abdominis muscle (TRA), the external abdominal oblique muscle (EO), the internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), the erector spinae muscle (ES), the vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO), the vastus lateralis oblique muscle (VLO), and the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and compared using the mean values from averaging three repeated measurements. Results: The muscle activity of the transversus abdominis, the external abdominal oblique, the internal abdominal oblique, the vastus medialis oblique, and the vastus lateralis oblique was significantly greater (p < 0.05), and the muscle activity of the erector spinae was significantly less (p < 0.05) during PNF leg pattern (D1) when the ADIM contraction was sustained compared to when it was not. Conclusion: These results suggest that sustaining ADIM during PNF leg pattern (D1) training increases the trunk and leg muscle activity, resulting in more effective training.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.441-449
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the impact of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation leg patterns emphasizing hallux abduction (PNF-LPHA) on the intrinsic foot muscles of participants with hallux valgus (HV) using the toe-spread-out exercise (TSO). Methods: The present study recruited 12 individuals with HV. All the participants voluntarily agreed to participate in the study after hearing explanations of its purpose and process. All participants performed the TSO, PNF-LPHA 1, and PNF-LPHA 2. The participants' abductor hallucis (AbH), adductor hallucis (AdH), extensor hallucis longus (EHL), and flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) activity was measured, and the ratio of AbH:AdH was measured during the three interventions using electromyography. Additionally, the participants' AbH thickness was measured by ultrasonography. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify the intra-rater reliability of ultrasonography at rest and during contraction. Results: The intra-rater reliability was excellent at rest and during contraction ($ICC_{3,1}=0.90$ and $ICC_{3,1}=0.83$, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the activity of the AbH, the ratio of AbH: AdH, and the thickness of AbH between the TSO and PNF-LPHA2 groups. Additionally, EHL activity was significantly higher in the PNF-LPHA2 group than in the TSOgroup. Conclusion: PNF-LPHA 2 can be recommended as a method to optimize AbH and EHL activity, the ratio of AbH:AdH, and the thickness of AbH in individuals with HV.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2015

Purpose: The current study seeks to examine the effects of stabilizing reversal(SR) and rhythmic stabilization(RS) in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on static balance in normal female adults. Methods: Subjects included 20 healthy women in their 20s. They were randomly divided into SR and RS groups. To assess static balance before and after PNF intervention, the good balance system was used to measure the interior and exterior center of pressure (COP) movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance before and after the intervention, and velocity moment. Results: Interior and exterior COP movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance, and velocity moment decreased in the SR group, but no statistically significant differences were observed. In the RS group, the interior and exterior COP movement distance declined without any significant difference, while the front and rear COP movement distance and velocity moment significantly decreased. The interior and exterior COP movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance, and velocity moment declined more in the RS group than in the SR group. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that the RS technique is more effective than the SR technique for improving the balance ability of healthy female adults. The results of this study can thus be utilized in the selection of effective interventions for improving the balance ability of healthy female adults.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study verifies the muscle activity around the amputation site during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern exercise for the upper extremities on the non-amputated part in upper extremity amputees and provides basic data on effective exercise around an amputation site. Methods: Manual resistance was applied to the PNF upper extremity pattern of the non-amputated part to generate muscle activity around the amputation site. The resistance was adjusted to an intensity that could cause maximal isometric contraction. The muscle activity of the amputation site and the non-amputated part was measured using a surface electromyogram for the upper trapezius, middle trapezius, infraspinatus, serratus anterior, and pectoralis major. Results: During the scapular exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed significantly lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. During the PNF pattern exercise in the painless range, the amputated side showed lower muscle activity and a lower muscle contraction ratio compared with the non-amputated side. When the direct scapular exercise of the amputated side was compared with the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated side, their muscle contraction ratios were similar. Conclusion: This study confirmed the effectiveness of the PNF pattern exercise of the non-amputated part as a way to indirectly train the injured site with no pain for rehabilitation of patients with serious body injuries, such as amputation. It is necessary to develop effective exercise programs for the rehabilitation of the amputation site based on the results of this study.