• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.96-104
• /
• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the hip joint strengthening exercises using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the clinical symptoms and the treatment effects in balance, sit to stand, and gait abilities in patients with TBI. Design: A single case study. Methods: A 13-year-old adolescent with quadriplegia and hip joint control impairment participated in this four-week training intervention. The patient, diagnosed with TBI, wastreated with hip joint strengthening exercises using PNF. In the first week, we focused on strengthening the body, relaxing the hip flexors and activating the hip extensor muscles in order to solve the patient's physical function and body structure. From the 2nd and 4th week, we improved the motivation through the task-oriented method, and then weight-bearing training of the right lower extremity was proceeded by kicking a soccor ball with the left lower extremity. The exercises were performed for 4 weeks, 5 days a week, for 60 minutes with the exercise intensity gradually increased according to the subject's physical abilities. Results: As a result of the study, the patient demonstrated improvements in the physical examination, which were evaluated before and after intervention and included the manual muscle test, modified Ashworth scale, sensory assessment, coordination assessment, Berg balance scale, 5-time sit to stand test, and the 10 meters walk test. Conclusions: The results of this case suggest that a hip joint strengthening exercise program using PNF may improve hip control ability, balance, sit to stand and gait ability in a patient with TBI.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2024

Purpose : After coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many people around the world became aware of respiratory diseases and developed increased interest in health and exercise. As the elderly population grows larger, the prevalence of brain diseases and respiratory conditions increases. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) exercises on pulmonary function and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings in the elderly population. Methods : In this study, we measured the pulmonary function and performed EEG of 30 elderly individuals. The participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group completed a DNS exercise training protocol, while the control group performed simple exercise training. After the exercise, the pulmonary function and EEG testing were repeated, and the amounts of change within and between groups were determined. Results : In terms of pulmonary function, the experimental group's forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) increased significantly after the exercise (p<.05), while the FVC differed significantly between groups (p<.05). In terms of EEG findings, the relative alpha waves significantly decreased in the F3 region (p<.05), while the relative beta waves significantly increased in the F4 region (p<.05). The relative gamma waves increased significantly in the Fp2 and P3 regions (p<.05), while the values in the F3 region differed significantly between groups (p<.05). Conclusion : DNS exercises performed by this elderly population demonstrated significant clinical value by providing fundamental data about both pulmonary function and EEG activity.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.461-473
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of inspiratory muscle training with chest expansion exercises on pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait in individuals with stroke. Methods: The participants in this study included 36 stroke patients. These patients were randomly divided into three groups: an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with chest expansion (CE) group (n=12), an IMT group (n=12), and a control group (n=12). Participants in the IMT with CE group underwent IMT and CE exercises 5 times per week for 30 minutes over 4 weeks, whereas those in the CE group and the control group received IMT and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for the same duration. The investigator measured the patients' pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait endurance. Results: After the intervention, the change values for the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and six-minute walk test (6MWT) in the IMT with CE group and the control group were significantly greater than those of the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, after the intervention, the change values of the FVC, FEV1, PEF, MIP, and 6MWT in the IMT with CE group were significantly greater than those in the IMT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that IMT with CE could be used to increase pulmonary function, maximal inspiratory pressure, and gait endurance in stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study examined the effects of ankle control training using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), leg muscle activation, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty-one stroke patients diagnosed with cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage were selected for the study. The experimental group underwent ankle control training using NMES, while the control group applied NMES to the paretic tibialis anterior muscle for 30 minutes per session, five times a week for four weeks. The muscle activity changes were measured using surface electromyography, and balance parameters were evaluated using a functional reach test (FRT). Results: The intra-group comparison of the concentric muscle activity revealed improvements in the experimental group, including paretic tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (p<0.05), medial gastrocnemius muscle (MG) (p<0.01), and lateral gastrocnemius muscle (LG) (p<0.05), as well as MG (p<0.05), LG (p<0.05), soleus muscle (p<0.05) of the non-paretic side, and soleus muscle symmetry index (p<0.05). The intra-group comparison of the eccentric muscle activity showed improvements in the experimental group, including MG (p<0.01) and LG (p<0.01) of the paretic side, as well as MG (p<0.01), LG (p<0.01) of the non-paretic side, and LG symmetry index (p<0.01). The intra-group comparison of the functional reach test revealed significant differences in the test results in the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ankle control training using NMES had a positive effect on the changes in muscle activation and improved balance in patients with stroke.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was investigated to find the approach in the PNF and TC for frail elder Method : This is a literature study with books, articles, seminal note and books for PNF and TC international course. Result : Neural mechanisms contribute significantly to the gains that occur in the range of motion about a joint with stretching exercises. The participation in a stretch-training program decreases tonic reflex activity and increases flexibility and decreases in force production and muscle activation. Also the stretching-induced decreases may be due to a central nervous system inhibitory mechanism. PNF stretch techniques can increase ROM in older adults. These results may differ from those of studies performed with younger populations because of age-related physiologic changes. TC exercise improves balance control and muscle strength and were associated with reorganized lower extremity neuromuscular patterns. Conclusions : The stretch training program of the PNF and TC contribute to increase the balance and coordination for frail elder. Therefore, The frail elder prevent falling. Further study, The PNF and TC be introduced as the new therapeutic intervention for frail elder.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Peripheral neuropathy accompanied by sensory disturbance, such as limb paralysis and hemiplegia, is mainly caused by acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). This case study aimed to determine the effect of ankle strengthening exercises that use proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the gait, balance, ankle-control ability, and sit-to-stand ability on a patient with ADEM. Methods: A 10-year-old male with quadriplegia and ankle-control impairment participated in this 4-week training intervention. The patient, diagnosed with ADEM, was treated with ankle strengthening exercises that used PNF. Results: The patient demonstrated improvements in balance, ankle-control ability, sit-to-stand ability, and gait performance. Outcome measures (manual muscle test, modified Ashworth scale, sensory assessment, coordination assessment, Berg balance scale, 5 time sit-to-stand test, and 10 m walk test) were taken before and after the training program. Conclusion: The results of this case suggest that an ankle strengthening exercise that uses PNF can improve the gait, balance, ankle-control ability, and sit-to-stand ability in patients with ADEM. In ADEM, the initial treatment is important, and the use of ankle strengthening exercises with PNF could lead to meaningful results. However, there is limited research due to an insufficient number of cases. In the future, more patients will need to be studied.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.119-128
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Obstacle crossing training is being used to improve the walking ability of stroke patients, but studies on which method is more effective when performing obstacle crossing training with an unaffected limb lead (OCT-ULL) and an affected limb lead (OCT-ALL) are not well known. As such, this study aims to compare the intervention effects of obstacle crossing training using unaffected limb leads (OCT-ULL) and obstacle crossing training using affected limb leads (OCT-ALL). Methods: In total, 25 patients with chronic stroke were studied and assigned randomly to the obstacle crossing training with unaffected limb leads (OCT-ULL) group or the obstacle crossing training with affected limb leads (OCT-ALL) group. A lower extremity strength test, balance and gait test, and fall efficacy test were conducted as preliminary tests, and all patients participated in the intervention for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks, and the same preliminary tests were conducted post-intervention. Results: Compared with the OCT-ALL group, the OCT-ULL group showed a significant improvement in the strength of the affected hip abductor muscle and in balance and gait, as well as in fall efficacy (p<.05). Conclusion: This study suggested that applying the OCT-ULL training method in the obstacle crossing training of stroke patients is more effective for improving balance and gait functions than OCT-ALL.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.87-95
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of whole-body vibration training on the flexibility and agility of professional soccer players. Methods: Sixteen professional soccer players participated voluntarily in the study. Subjects were allocated to two groups: the experimental group received whole-body vibration (WBV) and team training, and the control group received only team training. Team training was conducted in 15 sessions of 70 min duration over 3 weeks. WBV training was applied at 40 Hz frequency, 5 sets (1 min-training, 1 min-resting) in a squatting position. Outcomes from sit-and-reach, side-step test, burpee test, and T-test were measured before and after training. To examine pre- and post-intervention differences between the two groups, a paired t-test was used. Independent t-tests were performed to compare pre- and post-test scores and the time difference of the two groups. Results: Significant improvements in sit-and-reach and agility variables were observed in the experimental group (p < 0.05). In particular, flexibility (sit-and-reach) and agility (the side-step test and the burpee test) were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that whole-body vibration training has a positive effect on performance enhancement for professional soccer players.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.397-404
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of climbing training combined with coordinative locomotor training on muscle thickness in normal adults and to provide basic data regarding its applicability to clinical practice. Methods: Coordinative locomotor and climbing training was conducted three times per week for six weeks. Each exercise session consisted of ten minutes of warm-up and 40 minutes of the main exercise. A post-test was conducted six weeks after the training began, and a follow-up test was done two weeks after the training ended. Results: There were significant differences in the participants' external and internal oblique abdominis muscles over time (p<0.05). There were also significant interactions in the external and internal oblique abdominis muscles over time and according to group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that coordinative locomotor training with climbing had positive effects in normal adults, including increased thickness of the external and internal oblique abdominis muscles. The findings hold value for patient rehabilitation and clinical applications and interventions using coordinative locomotor training in combination with climbing.