• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-155
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of scapular pattern of PNF on the pain level in whiplash injury patients. Pain level were assessed prior, after first, after second, after third, after fourth, and after fifth treatment. All 6 times were calculated pain level. To find out the effectiveness of scapular pattern of PNF, we were divide two groups. The one group was consisted of 25 patients that were treated with H/P electrical therapy and MFR, and the other group was consisted of 25 patients that were treated with H/P, electrical therapy, and scapular pattern of PNF. The results were as follow: 1. There were statistical significance on the pain level in MFR group during all treatment periods(p<0.05). 2. There were statistical significance on the pain level in scapular pattern of PNF group all during treatment periods(p<0.05). 3. Scapular pattern of PNF group had more statistical significance than MFR group on the pain level during all treatment periods(p<0.05). Consequently, this study suggest that scapular pattern of PNF technique has a very effectiveness to the whiplash injury patients.

• 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.13 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of symmetrical-reciprocal pattern of scapula and pelvis exercises using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on gait speed and balance in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Among the adult patients with hemiplegia that were hospitalized at Michuhol Rehabilitation Center after being diagnosed with stroke, 10 that were capable of independent walking for more than five minutes and that understood and cooperated with the therapy and test methods of this research, were selected as subjects. The therapy was implemented based on the concept of PNF, and it was performed on a low mat and a height-adjustable mat, as proscribed by the fundamental procedure for PNF. Symmetrical-reciprocal pattern of scapula and pelvis exercises were applied to the patients in the decubitus position. The therapy scheme included stabilizing reversals, rhythmic stabilization, and a combination of isotonics, rhythmic initiation, and dynamic reversals. To investigate gait speed and body trunk mobility before and after the symmetrical-reciprocal pattern of scapula and pelvis exercises were applied, walking speed for a distance of 10 m was measured and balance was tested based on the Berg-Balance scale test table. The Berg-Balance scale test was performed by one therapist to minimize any error that could occur from the subjective evaluation method used by therapists. Results: Gait speed increased by 8.97 seconds after applying the symmetrical-reciprocal pattern of scapula and pelvis exercises using the concept of PNF, showing a significant difference (p<0.01). However, balance showed no significant difference after the therapy (p>0.14). Conclusion: Exercise therapy that uses the symmetrical-reciprocal pattern of scapula and pelvis with the concept of PNF can be said to be a useful therapeutic technique that can enhance the walking speed of patients with hemiplegia.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the immediate effects of different breathing training techniques on diaphragm excursion and vital capacity in healthy adults. Specifically, the study focused on comparing respiratory exercise without PNF, bilateral pattern respiratory exercise, and bilateral pattern with spiral pattern respiratory exercise. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy adults in their 20s participated in the study. Diaphragm excursion and vital capacity were evaluated under three different conditions. A one-way repeated ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in diaphragm excursion and vital capacity among the interventions. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in diaphragm excursion among the interventions, comparing respiratory exercise without PNF, bilateral pattern respiratory exercise, and bilateral pattern with spiral pattern respiratory exercise. Similarly, statistically significant differences were found in vital capacity among the interventions without PNF respiratory exercise, bilateral pattern respiratory exercise, and bilateral pattern with spiral pattern respiratory exercise. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that incorporating the spiral technique in respiratory exercise led to increased diaphragm excursion and lung capacity compared to other interventions. These findings suggest that PNF respiratory exercise combined with the spiral pattern may have clinical implications for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and clinical application of these approaches.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.1537-1542
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the effects of kinesio taping (KT) applied in a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern on the pain, weight-bearing distribution (WBD), and walking ability of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. Thirty women with KOA were randomly allocated to a control group (n=15) with KT at the quadriceps only, and a PNF pattern group (n=15) with KT at the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscle. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale during walking. In addition, WBD, and walking ability were measured before and 30 minutes after KT application. The VAS significantly reduced in both groups after the intervention (p<.05). WBD (p<.05, ES=.32) and walking ability (p<.05, ES=.38) showed a significant change in the PNF pattern group, and in the inter-group comparison, the PNF pattern group showed a significant difference compared to the control groups. These results demonstrate that KT application with PNF pattern effectively attenuate the pain and improves WBD and walking ability in KOA patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.17 no.1
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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.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.21-35
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• 2007

Objective : The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence on lower extremity pattern of PNF to balance ability of patients with chronic hemiplegia. Methods : The subjects were consisted of 52 patients with chronic hemiplegia. All subjects were randomly devide to two group which was ROM exercise group and PNF group. Each group had a treatment for 30 minutes per day and three times a week during 10 weeks period. BPM was used to measure sway area, path, velocity, and BBS FRT TUG to measure patient's balance ability, ABC to measure patient's self-confidence. Results : 1. Sway area was showed that PNF group had more significantly decreased than ROM exercise group(p<.05). 2. Sway path was showed that PNF group had more significantly decreased than ROM exercise group(p<.05). 3. Max velocity was showed that PNF group had more significantly decreased than ROM exercise group(p<.05). 4. BBS was showed that PNF group had more significantly increased than ROM exercise group (p<.05). 5. FRT was showed that PNF group had more significantly increased than ROM exercise group (p<.05). 6. TUG was showed that PNF group had more significantly decreased than ROM exercise group(p<.05). 7. ABC was showed that PNF group had more significantly increased than ROM exercise group (p<.05). Conclusion : it was showed that the lower extremity pattern of PNF would increase balance abilities of the chronic hemiplegia patients. So it would be possible to make good use of lower extremity pattern of PNF for improving balance abilities of chronic hemiplegia patients.

• 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.14 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the intramuscular activation of the scapular stabilizing muscles and the upper trapezius/middle serratus anterior (UT/MSA) ratios during shrug exercise and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) scapular pattern exercise. Methods: The participants of this study were 13 young adult men who voluntarily consented to participate in this experiment after listening to its purpose and methods. All participants were instructed on maximal voluntary isometric contraction and scapular exercises. The intramuscular activation of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), middle serratus anterior (MSA), and lower serratus anterior (LSA) muscles while performing scapular exercises in a side-lying position were measured using surface electromyography. To analyze the muscle activation and UT/MSA ratio between the two exercises, a one-way repeated ANOVA was performed. Post-hoc analyses were conducted using Tukey's multiple comparison and analysis. Hamstring flexibility for each group was measured by a passive straight leg raising test. Results: The shrug exercise showed significantly higher UT activation compared to PNF anterior elevation and posterior elevation scapular patterns. The PNF scapular anterior elevation pattern showed significantly higher serratus anterior activation than the shrug exercise. Additionally, the UT/MSA ratios were significantly lower in the PNF scapular anterior elevation pattern than in the two exercises. Conclusion: Although shrug exercise was effective for strengthening UT, the PNF scapular anterior elevation pattern may be effective for strengthening MSA and improving the UT/MSA ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.101-108
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• 2015

PURPOSE: This study researched the effects of the changes of elbow joint angle and of arm position in PNF pattern on muscle activation of the contralateral shoulder muscles while performing PNF pattern exercise. METHODS: The research subjects were 16 male physical therapists who had no neuromuscular or neurological disorders. To measure the muscle activation of the contralateral shoulder muscles, EMG electrodes were attached to the muscle valley of the middle and posterior areas of the deltoid and triceps muscles of the arm. Muscle activation while performing the ulnar thrust PNF pattern exercise was measured with the elbow joint positioned at angles of $30^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $60^{\circ}$. Resistance points were at the initial, middle, and end ranges of PNF pattern exercise. RESULTS: Muscle activation of the middle and posterior portions of the deltoid muscle increased significantly according to the changes of elbow joint angle. In each resistance point the middle range was significantly higher than at other points. A significant difference on muscle activation was demonstrated throughout each range depending on the type of muscle. Muscle activation of the middle and posterior portions of the deltoid muscle was higher than muscle activation of the triceps. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that the PNF pattern exercising method used in this study is a selective exercising method focusing on the deltoid muscle over the triceps muscle. In order to increase the muscle strength to the maximum level, it is necessary to provide the maximum level of resistance in the middle range of the elbow joint.