• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.255-263
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) lower extremity pattern on the dominant leg on muscle activity of the lower extremity supported by the ground. Methods: The subjects were 20 healthy males living in Busan. All subjects performed four direction PNF lower extremity patterns, and data were collected by surface electromyography from the gluteus medius (GM), tensor fascia latae (TFL), vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), and semitendinosus (STD) muscles of the opposite lower extremity during PNF lower extremity pattern. The PNF lower extremity pattern applied to the dominant leg was (1) flexion/adduction/external rotation with knee flexion; (2) extension/abduction/internal rotation with knee extension; (3) flexion/abduction/internal rotation with knee flexion; and (4) extension/adduction/external rotation with knee extension pattern, repeated 3 times per pattern and using the average value of the collected results. Collected muscle activity values were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey testing was performed to check between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. Results: GM and TFL flexion/abduction/internal rotation pattern with knee flexion was significantly higher than other patterns. VMO and VLO extension/adduction/external rotation pattern with knee extension was significantly higher than other patterns. STD flexion/adduction/external rotation pattern with knee flexion was significantly higher than other patterns. Conclusion: The study confirms differences in lower extremity muscle activity for the PNF lower extremity pattern, indicating that selective muscle contraction induction is possible using a pattern appropriate to the purpose of treatment.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of normal timing according to angular motion in PNF patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle, and erector spinae. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were required to complete following two PNF extremity patterns; upper extremity extension- adduction-internal rotation pattern with $180^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$ and lower extremity flexion- adduction-external rotation pattern with $0^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$. A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the two PNF patterns on muscle activity in each muscle. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the ratio of local muscle activity to global muscle activity. Results: In terms of their effect on applied normal timing, the upper and lower extremity pattern significantly affected the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern ((at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) influenced the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae (p < .05). Conclusion: The effect of the upper and lower extremity patterns on applied normal timing was significant in that these patterns increased trunk muscle activation. The upper extremity pattern (at an extension angle of $30^{\circ}$) and the lower extremity pattern (at a flexion angle of $90^{\circ}$) increased trunk muscle activation. Normal timing is required to increase trunk muscle strength and extremity movement.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of opposite lower extremity lateral muscle activation by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise targeting the lower extremities. Methods: Nineteen patients with chronic hemiplegia volunteered to participate in this study. PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns; initial, end range, and extension patterns; abduction and internal rotation patterns; and initial and end range patterns were applied to the dominant lower extremity. Activation of lateral muscles (multifidus, gluteus medius, tensor fascia lata, and peroneous longus) of the paralyzed leg was then measured by electromyography (EMG). Results: There were significant differences in lateral muscle activation, depending on the PNF pattern applied, with the differences more significant in flexion, abduction, internal rotation, and end range patterns. Conclusion: PNF flexion, abduction, and internal rotation patterns can improve lateral muscle activation of one leg in the standing position in the gait cycle.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-27
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate PNF exercise, the athletic performances and the ability of exercise capacity in Taekwondo. Methods : This is a literature study with books and articles, seminar note and books for PNF international course. Results : The PNF exercise was efficient at improving flexibility and muscle strengthening in Taekwondo athletes. Kinematic characters of Yupchagi and Dollyuchagi in Taekwondo were analogous to Lower extremity Flexion-Abduction-Internal Rotation patterns in PNF, and the kinematic character of Apchagi was to analogous to Lower extremity Flexion-Adduction-External Rotation pattern in PNF. Movements of Upper extremities and Lower extremities during kicking were similar to PNF patterns. The PNF is efficient at improving athletic performances and the ability of exercise capacity in Taekwondo. Conclusion : The result of this study showed that PNF patterns and kicking that is one of the basic movement in Taekwondo have many similarities. With that PNF patterns was the training methods to improve flexibility and muscle strengthening, PNF patterns are considered to improve athletic performances and the ability of exercise capacity in Taekwondo.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) applied to the unilateral upper extremity on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity. Twenty-two healthy subjects (mean age of 23.7 years) participated in this study. Method : PNF patterns applied on the unilateral upper extremity in all subjects were the flexion/abduction/external rotation and lifting pattern. The hold and appoximation techniques for the irradiation were applied to end range of both patterns. Muscle activations in four patterns were measured in vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius medial muscles of contralateral lower extremity using surface EMG system. Each EMG value in individual muscle was normalized for maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed by one factor analysis of variance with repeated measure test. Result : There were significant differences in the between-subject effect (muscles) and within-subject effect (patterns) in comparison of muscle activation by application of PNF patterns (p<.05). The irradiation led to higher activation in the flexion/abduction/external rotation pattern than that of lifting pattern in all muscles (p<.05). The approximation techniques revealed more activations than these of hold technique in all muscles (p<.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that the application of PNF patterns to the unilateral upper extremity affect on the muscle activation of contralateral lower extremity and increase according to the intensity of resistance. This mechanism of contralateral effect might provide a help to the development of treatment method for the affected side and functional improvement for the patients who have damages of central nervous system or musculoskeletal problems by orthopedic injury.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2017

Purpose: This study compared and analyzed the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) arm extension pattern and leg flexion pattern on the contralateral lower extremity muscles when the patterns were applied to the same subject. Methods: In the study, 35 healthy men and women who understood the PNF patterns were selected as participants. The participants completed the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern and leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern in the supine position. While the patients' completed each pattern, the contralateral leg muscle activity was measured to examine the irradiation effect. The maximum isometric contraction time of the muscles to be measured was kept for 5 seconds, and the mean value was obtained by repeating the pattern three times. Results: When the leg flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion pattern was completed, the muscle activity in the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius of the contralateral lower extremity was significantly greater than that found in the PNF arm extension-abduction-internal rotation pattern. Conclusion: The PNF leg flexion pattern showed greater muscle activity on the contralateral lower extremity than the arm extension pattern. Thus, the PNF leg extension pattern is more effective in the activation of the muscles associated with weight-bearing activity.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of PNF lower extremity flexion pattern on the eletromyographic (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal, external oblique abdominal, erector spinae. Methods : Twenty-six healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required complete following two PNF lower extremity patterns; flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (D1) and flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (D2). A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the PNF two patterns on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine local/global muscle ratio. Results : The D1 pattern was showed significant rectus abdominis (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 2.23 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.53. The D2 pattern showed significant erector spinae (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 3.06 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.72. Conclusion : The D1 pattern made rectus abdominis activation increase. The D2 pattern made erector spinae activation increase. As compared D1 and D2 pattern on trunk muscle activation, it's will be useful decision making for the trunk muscle strength and stabilization.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) patterns on electromyography (EMG) activity in the rectus abdominis, internal abdominal oblique, external abdominal oblique, and erector spinae according to position changes. Methods: Ten healthy adults volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were required to complete exercises that followed two PNF extremity patterns, namely, an upper extremity extension-adduction-internal rotation pattern and a lower extremity flexion-adduction-external rotation pattern. The exercises were applied in the supine, side-lying, and sitting positions. Repeated measure one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni correction were used to determine the influence of the patterns on muscle activity for each muscle, and descriptive statistics were then used to determine the local/global muscle ratios. Results: The upper extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis and erector spinae in the supine position, and on the internal oblique and external oblique in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.05, and a high ratio of 1.01 was shown for the internal oblique/external oblique in the sitting position. The lower extremity pattern had a significant effect on the rectus abdominis in the side-lying position and on the internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae in the sitting position (p<0.05). The median value for the internal oblique/rectus abdominis showed a high ratio of 2.83 in the sitting position and a high ratio of 1.30 for the internal oblique/external oblique in the side-lying position. Conclusion: The PNF pattern increases local muscle activation in an unstable position. Therefore, when the pattern is used for intervention purposes, trunk stability and varied position changes should be taken into account.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

Purpose : To describes the important aspects of knee joint movement and function used when applying PNF technique to the lower limb. Method : The knee was a very important roles in the lower limb movement and ambulation. This study summarizes the physiologic movement of knee to the PNF lower extremity patterns. Result : The tibiofemoral joint is usually described as a modified hinge joint with flexion-extension and axial rotation by two degrees of freedom movement. These arthrokinematics are a result of the geometry of the joints and the tension produced in the ligamentous structures. The patellofemoral joint is a sellar joint between the patella and the femur. Stability of the patellofemoral joint is dependent on the passive and dynamic restraints around the knee. In a normal knee the ligaments are inelastic and maintain a constant length as the knee flexes and extends, helping to control rolling, gliding and translation of the joint motions. Conclusions : It is important to remember that small alterations in joint alignment can result in significant alterations in patellofemoral joint stresses and that changes in the mechanics of the patellofemoral joint can also result in changes in the tibiofemoral compartments. Successful treatment requires the physical therapist to understand and apply these arthrokinematic concepts. When applied to PNF low extremity patterns, understanding of these mechanical concepts can maximize patient function while minimizing the risk for further symptoms or injury.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2008

Purpose : To describes the important aspects of the foot and ankle movement and function used when git and balance strategy. Method : The foot and ankle was a very important roles in the lower limb movement and gait. This study summarizes the physiologic movement of knee to the PNF lower extremity patterns. Result : The ankle joint composed of the talocural joint, the subtalarl joint, transverse tarsal joint, talocalcaneonavicular joint. The onset of dorsiflexion muscle activity starts in pre swing gait patterns. First contract muscle is the extensor hallucis. Activity of tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus quickly follows in mid swing gait phase. During stance phase, the soleus and gastrocnemius muscle provided plantar flexor torque, which muscle reacts quickly to restrain ankle dorsiflexion, and contributes modulated control of the ankle motion in gait patterns. Conclusions : The understanding of ankle kinematics, could provide a good therapeutic approach for improving gait patterns in patients with various pathological condition.