• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.859-864
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vibration on Golgi tendon organ(GTO) and Hold-Relax of PNF in muscular activity and gait factors on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness(DOMS). This study was conducted on 20 subjects. they were divided into two groups; Hold-Relax of PNF(n=10), Vibration on GTO(n=10). Both of the group was performed interventions 1 times a day for 3 days. The data was analyzed by the repeated-ANOVA for comparing before, after 24h and after 48h changes of factors in each group and the Independent t-test for comparing the between groups. The results are as follows. There was statistically significant difference of before, after 24h and after 48h vibration on GTO group and Hold-Relax of PNF group in muscular activity and gait factors on DOMS.(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of between vibration on GTO group, but there was statistically significant difference Hold-Relax of PNF group in EMG, step width, step length, stride length(p>0.05). As a results of this study, Hold-Relax of PNF group are effective in improving muscular activity and gait factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of three PNF stretching techniques for improving hamstring flexibility and to compare the effectiveness of three PNF stretching techniques(direct and indirect and mix(direct&indirect) of hold-relax technique). METHODS: The subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: group1-direct-hold-relax technique(n=10); group2-indirect-hold-relax technique(n=8); group3-mix(direct&indirect)-hold-relax technique(n=10). For each group, stretch was performed three times a week for a period of three weeks. Hamstring flexibility for each group was measured using the ASLR and PSLR. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvement in hamstring flexibility for all subjects of three groups. However, were not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, three PNF stretching techniques are confirmed to be useful for improving hamstring flexibility. The choice for a qualified technique has to be made individually according to patient and therapist.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2006

Purpose : To identify the effects of Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the functional improvement of patients with neck myofascial pain syndrome. Methods : The present research investigated 30 patients with neck myofascial syndrome, dividing them into a group doing Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. This study examined degree of recovery from neck pain by comparing their neck myofascial pain syndrome before and after the treatment, and compared to find difference in the degree of recovery from myofascial pain syndrome. Results : The results are as follows. For the Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF), the visual analogue scale(VAS) decreased significantly for six weeks treatment, and the range of motion(ROM) of cervical vertebrae increased significantly(p<.05). Conlusion : This study suggest that Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation have an effect on the functional improvement of patients with neck myofascial pain syndrome.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.210-217
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• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the immediate effect of hamstring stretching techniques of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) hold-relax and PNF irradiation on the hamstring muscle. Design: Three-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Fifty-one subjects with shortened hamstrings were randomly assigned to the static stretching group (n=17), PNF hold-relax group (n=17), and the PNF irradiation group (n=17). All subjects performed an active knee extension (AKE) test to assess for the lower extremity with a shortened hamstring. The static stretching group performed stretches by lifting their leg to the maximum extent (3 times, 30 seconds). The PNF hold-relax group performed maximal isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance (3 times, 10 seconds). The PNF irradiation group performed maximum isometric contraction against the experimenter's resistance toward the direction of the body (5 times, 5 seconds). The pre and post-tests measured range of motion (ROM), pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and muscle tone. Results: There were significant differences in ROM and PPT between pre and post intervention in each group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference only in the ROM among groups (p<0.05). Post-hoc analysis showed that the changes in ROM occurred in the order of the PNF hold-relax group, static stretching group and PNF irradiation group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the PNF irradiation technique may improve ROM and may be used to improve ROM similar to other stretching techniques. Therefore, the PNF irradiation technique could be included in stretching programs and can be used as a suitable stretching method depending on the situation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify that the effect of hold-relax and active stretching on recoveries of upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle fatigue after computer work. Methods : This study was conducted by 30 volunteer at the age of 23~33(resting group=10, hold-relax group=10, active stretching group=10). The muscle fatigue measured by tracing the median frequency(MDF) decrement from power spectrum analyses of EMG signals and the data were analyzed repeated ANOVA. Result : In case of upper trapezius, there was significant difference in group I,II and group II, III. In case of sternocleidomastoid, there was significant difference in group I,II and group I,III. Conclusion : The active stretching was effective for sternocleidomastoid and the hold-relax was effective for upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. The hold-relax was effective better than active stretching on recoveries of muscle fatigue.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the activity of the shoulder flexor and extensor when hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with shoulder joint flexion. Methods: The subjects of this study were 15 healthy women. With the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$, hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied for the same submaximal resistance to measure the activities of the deltoid muscle anterior fiber, deltoid muscle posterior fiber, pectoralis major fiber, and latissimus dorsi muscle with surface electromyography. An independent t-test was conducted in order to compare activities of each muscle according to the two techniques. Results: When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the flexor was higher when the contraction-relax technique was applied than when the hold-relax technique was applied. When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexed at $90^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the extensor was relatively higher than when the flexor was at $0^{\circ}$ Conclusion: When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexion at $0^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the flexor was higher when the contraction-relax technique was applied than when the hold-relax technique was applied. When the hold-relax and contraction-relax techniques were applied with the shoulder joint flexed at $90^{\circ}$, the activities of the shoulder flexor and extensor were not significantly different, but the activity of the extensor was relatively higher than when the flexor was at $0^{\circ}$.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review articles in order to establish optimal contraction intensity and duration in the performance of relaxation techniques for maximal increase in range of motion. Methods: The Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Medline, ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were used to search articles from 1990 to January 2016. The search terms were "contract relax," "hold relax," "muscle energy technique (MET)," and "proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching." Only experimental human studies (randomized controlled trials) that compared the effects of varying intensity and duration of isometric contraction were included. Non-English language and unpublished studies were excluded. Results: A total of 2,156 articles were initially identified, with only five eventually meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Three studies compared the effects of varying intensity in isometric contraction and two studies compared the effects of varying duration in isometric contraction with regard to range of motion (ROM). Two articles suggested that submaximal voluntary isometric contraction was more effective than maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in the improvement of ROM. One article showed that a longer contraction time led to greater increases in ROM. Conclusion: Submaximal voluntary isometric contraction was recommended during contract-relax exercises in healthy people. Lack of evidence makes it difficult to suggest the optimal duration of isometric contraction during relaxation techniques. For future research, high-quality evidence will be needed to establish the optimal contraction intensity for maximum improvement of ROM.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of both general hold-relax techniques and hold-relax techniques using pumping on pain due to delayed muscle pain and on the range of motion (ROM) of joints. Methods: Thirty-nine young adult males and females were randomly assigned either to a hold-relax technique application group of 20 subjects or to a group of 19 subjects with hold-relax techniques applied using a pumping application. Tenderness thresholds, the ROM of joints, and pain intensities were measured on the biceps of the nondominant arm of the subjects in both groups before exercises were performed to induce delayed muscle pain. Tenderness thresholds were again measured 24hours, 48hours, and 72 hours after inducing delayed muscle pain. The relevant intervention methods were applied to the two groups after conducting the measurement at 48hours. As a statistical analysis method, repeated measure ANOVAs were conducted to examine the tenderness thresholds, ROMs of elbow joints, and pain intensities in the individual groups at the time points. Results: At 48 hours and 72 hours after application of the interventions, the general hold-relax technique application group showed greater changes in the tenderness thresholds, the ROMs of elbow joints, and the pain intensities than did the group applying hold-relax techniques using a pumping application (p>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the application of hold-relax techniques is thought to have beneficial effects on pain resulting from delayed muscle pain and on limited ROMs of joints.

• 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.2 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

Purpose : To identify the effects of Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the functional improvement of patients with neck myofascial pain syndrome. Methode : The present research investigated 60 patients with neck myofascial syndrome, dividing them into a group doing Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and a group doing Stretching, This study examined degree of recovery from neck pain by comparing their neck myofascial pain syndrome before and after the treatment, and compared two groups to find difference in the degree of recovery from myofascial pain syndrome. Results : 1. For Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group, the pain rating score (PRS) were significantly decreased for six weeks treatment. 2. For Stretching group, the pain rating score (PRS) did not indicate significant decrease for six weeks treatment. 3. For Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group, range of motion of flexion, left rotation, right rotation indicated significant difference after pre test and after two week but no significant difference after four week. 4. For Stretching group, range of motion of flexion, left rotation, and right rotation except extension indicated significant difference after pre test and after two week but no significant difference after four week. Conclusion : The Hold-Relax of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation is considered to be effective in increasing joint range of motion of patient and decreasing pain. Accordingly physical therapists has to learn a wide range of patterns and to develop various treatment techniques.