• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2023

Purpose: We investigated the effects of transcranial stimulation and task-oriented training on upper extremity and cognitive function in chronic stroke patients. Methods: A total of 30 patients were randomly divided into transcranial stimulation and task-oriented training groups (TT) and task-oriented training groups (TO). The TT group performed 30 min 5 times a week for 4 weeks in task-oriented training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation. The TO group performed 30 min 5 times a week for 4 weeks in task-oriented training. To measure upper extremity function, the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, Manual Function Test, and Cognitive Function Test were performed using the Stroop Test and the Trail Making Test. Results: There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) before and after training in both groups, and the TT group showed significant improvement in both groups. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed transcranial stimulation and task-oriented training in upper extremity function and cognitive function in patients with chronic strokes.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of elastic resistance exercise using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the daily activities of a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury. The result will be proposed as background data for effective intervention in a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury. Methods: The target subject was a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury to the cervical cord (C6). Elastic resistance exercise based on PNF was performed for 30 min daily, five times a week, for eight weeks. The ASIS motor scale was applied to test the muscular strength of the upper limb, and the spinal cord independence measure II (SCIM II) was used to evaluate the capacity of daily activity. Results: By applying elastic resistance exercise based on PNF, the muscular strength of the upper limb increased and the performance of daily activity improved. Conclusion: Because elastic resistance exercise based on PNF positively influences the ASIA motor scale and SCIM II of the patient with incomplete spinal cord injury. It can be used for training programs to improve the capacity of daily activity of the patient.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2013

Purpose : To identify importance of coordinative locomotor training, we reviewed the coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater with respect to motor control theory. Methods : We reviewed literatures related with sprinter & skater and coordination.. Results : The coordinative locomotor training is useful tool to improve interlimb coordination. A problem of interlimb coordination ability is to minimize the degree of freedoms during walking and to solve with context-condition variability and how to make a interlimb coordinative structures. A way of solving method is coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater in PNF. The coordinative locomotor training set to fit the gait steps can be applied with gait tasks and can be extended by applying the irradiation of the PNF. Conclusion : The coordinative locomotor training using sprinter & skater in PNF is a useful way method to improve interlimb coordination during walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.205-211
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of an intervention that combined the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and frequency-specific neuromuscular electrical stimulation on changes in trunk muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and balance in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen subjects were assigned to group I which performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver combined with low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation and the other 15 subjects to group II where the abdominal drawing-in maneuver was combined with high-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Muscle activity and fatigue were measured using surface electromyography before the intervention. Balance was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale and re-measured after six weeks of intervention for comparative analysis. Results: Both groups showed a significant increase in muscle activity and balance (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). In the changes in muscle fatigue, only the experimental group II showed a significant increase in muscle fatigue (p<0.05). The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was confirmed that among stroke patients, the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and low-frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation was more effective in changing the muscle activity and balance of the trunk by minimizing the occurrence of muscle fatigue compared to the combination of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver and high-frequency stimulation. These results can be used as basic data for clinical trunk stabilization training.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2017

Purpose: This study attempts to identify the effects of abdominal strength training using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the balance ability and pain level of patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: A total of 30 patients with chronic lower back pain were randomly divided into either experimental group I (n=10), who received abdominal strength training using PNF, experimental group II (n=10), who received abdominal strengthening training, or the control group (n=10), who received conventional physiotherapy. The interventions were applied three times a week for six weeks. We measured Berg's balance scale (BBS) in order to investigate the change in balance ability, while we measured the visible analogue scale (VAS) to determine the severity of pain. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group change before and after the intervention. For the comparison of the between-group difference, we used a one-way ANOVA test. Tukey's test was used as a post hoc test. The statistical significance level was set at ${\alpha}=0.05$ for all the variables. Results: Experimental group I and experimental group II showed a significant within-group change in BBS (p<0.01). A statistically significant between-group difference was observed in terms of the change in BBS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, experimental group I and experimental group II showed a more effective change in BBS than the control group. Experimental group I, experimental group II, and the control group all showed a significant within-group change in the VAS (p<0.01). There was a statistically significant between-group difference in terms of the change in the VAS (p<0.01). According to the results of the post hoc Tukey test, the change in the VAS was more effective in experimental group I than in experimental group II and the control group. Conclusion: In this study, the application of abdominal strength training using PNF for subjects who complained of chronic lower back pain proved effective in improving their balance ability and reducing pain. We therefore believe that this training method could be applied as a useful program for patients with chronic lower back pain.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2022

Proprioception training has been considered a secondary method to facilitate postural control ability. This study investigated the effects of two different proprioception training methods - the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and visual feedback-based joint position and force reproduction (VF) - on postural control advancements. Sixteen healthy people volunteered for this study, and they randomly grouped two. Each group participated in the PNF and VF training for three weeks. We evaluated each subject's proprioception levels and balance ability before and after the training. We used a clinometer and electromyogram (EMG) for VF training. The joint position reproduction test was also used to evaluate the position and force aspects of the proprioception level. We analyzed the trajectory of the center of pressure (COP) while subjects were standing on the firm floor and balance board with one leg using a pressure mat. The improvement of the position aspect of the proprioception level of the VF group (4.93±4.74°) was larger than that of the PNF group (-0.43±2.08°) significantly (p=0.012). The improvement of the anterior-posterior COP velocity of the PNF group (0.01±0.01 cm/s) was larger than that of VF group(0.002±0.01 cm/s) significantly (p=0.046). Changes of position error in the PNF group (rho=0.762, p=0.028) and tibialis anterior force reproduction error in the VF group showed a significantly strong relationship with balance ability variables. These results showed that different PNF and VF have different effects on improving two aspects of proprioception and their relationship with the balance ability. Therefore, these results might be useful for selecting proprioception or balance rehabilitation considering the clinical and patients' situation.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.411-419
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• 2019

Purpose: This study determined the effects of elastic bands in coordinative locomotor training on the body alignment of elementary school baseball players. Methods: Thirty subjects were recruited for this study and separated into two groups: the coordinative locomotor training group with elastic bands (n=15) and the non-training control group (n=15) were five times a week for eight. The trunk inclination, trunk imbalance, kyphotic angle and lordotic angle were used to evaluate body alignment. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in trunk inclination, trunk imbalance, kyphotic angle and lordotic angle (p<0.05). Conclusion: Coordinative locomotor training impacted postural alignment in elementary school baseball players.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.37-46
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• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of combination of isotonic and rhythmic stabilization in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on trunk stability and balance in elderly people with chronic low back pain. Subjects : Thirty-two elderly people ($73.78{\pm}8.49$ years of age) who had complaints of CLBP were randomly assigned to 2 groups: experimental group and control group. Methods : Subject trained with combination of isotonic and rhythmic stabilization in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation for 4weeks with aim of improving trunk stability and balance. Weight distribution, trunk muscle balance, static balance ability and dynamic balance ability were measured before, at the end of training. Results : Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. After the exercise programs, there were significant differences in the weight distribution, trunk muscle balance and dynamic balance ability between the experimental and control group. However there was no significant difference in the one leg stance test(p<.05). Conclusion : This study suggest that PNF programs may be appropriate for improving trunk stability and balance in elderly people with CLBP.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of underwater and ground proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern exercise on trunk control and lower extremity muscle activity of chronic stroke patients. Design: Pretest-posttest design: single blind. Methods: The subjects were 28 patients (experimental group, n=14 or control group, n=14) diagnosed with chronic stroke. The experimental group performed underwater proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern exercise. The control group performed ground proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern exercise. Training was conducted once a day for 30 minutes, five days per week for six. Trunk control was measured using the Trunk Impairment Scale. Lower extremity muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography. Results: As a result of comparison within groups, the experimental and control group showed significant difference for trunk control after the experiment (p<0.05). In comparison between two groups, the experimental group showed more significant difference in trunk control than the control group (p<0.05). In comparison within groups, the experimental group showed significant difference for lower extremity muscle activity after the experiment (p<0.05). In comparison between two groups, the experimental group showed more significant difference in lower extremity muscle activity than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these results, underwater proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation lower extremity pattern exercise effectively improved the trunk control and lower extremity muscle activity of chronic stroke patients.

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