• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2018

Purpose: We sought to examine whether using the rhythmic stabilization (RS) technique before proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) wrist taping affected pain and grip strength in patients with wrist pain to provide a basis for the application of PNF taping. Methods: The study consisted of 41 badminton enthusiasts (aged 20-40 years) who reported discomfort and pain due to overuse of their wrists. The subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=20) or a control group (n=21). In the experimental group, PNF wrist taping was applied after application of the PNF RS technique, and PNF wrist taping was applied after stretching in the control group. The tape was applied five times a week for 3 weeks. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. The paired t-test was performed to compare grip strength and pain within the groups before and after the intervention. Covariance analysis was conducted to compare differences between the experimental group and control group. The level of significance was set as ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: Within-group changes in grip strength and VAS were significantly different in the control group and experimental group (p<0.01). Grip strength and VAS showed more improvement in the experimental group than in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: PNF wrist taping after stretching and the PNF RS technique both significantly reduced pain and improved grip strength in club badminton players with wrist pain. These improvements were significantly greater in the experimental group in which the PNF RS technique was applied. The results suggest that PNF may be considered useful to improve grip strength and reduce wrist pain.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2009

Purpose : This paper reviews on the method of PNF stretching. Methods : This is literature study with Pubmed, medline, SPORT Discus, EBSCO, ProQuest and books. Results : PNF stretching is effective for increasing range of motion than static and ballistic stretching. CR(contract-relax) technique is effective and CRAC(contract-relax with agonist contraction) technique including agonist contraction is more effective. A minimum of one repetition, twice or three times per week is required for range of motion gains, needs to be conducted continueously. A minimum of 20% contraction intensity and more than 3 seconds contraction duration are needed to increase range of motion. Inclusion of static stretching of antagonist and agonist contraction is more effective. Conclusions : PNF stretching is more effective for increasing range of motion than other stretching methods, but, clinicians need to select proper techniques according to subjects and muscles, and conduct carefully when applying technique.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the PNF stabilization technique for the hip joint and the bridging exercise on the trunk stabilizer muscles in healthy adults. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy adults were randomly allocated to either a PNF stabilization exercise group (n = 12) or a bridging exercise group (n = 16). The outcome measures included the contraction thickness ratio in the transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO), and the TrA lateral slide was assessed during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver using b-mode ultrasound. The researcher measured the abdominal muscle thickness of each participant before the therapist began the intervention and at the moment that the intervention was applied. Between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: The PNF intervention program showed a significant increase in the trunk stabilizer muscle. The percentage of change in the TrA thickness showed a significant interaction between intervention. However, there were no significant differences in the IO and EO between the two groups. Conclusion: The PNF stabilization technique for the hip joint can be used effectively to improve the IO and TrA muscles in healthy adults.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.365-376
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study investigates research trends in the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and Movement journal. Methods: This study analyzes the frequency of keywords and their coincidences with medical subject headings (MeSH) over 15 years in 315 papers from volume 1, issue 1 to volume 15, issue 3 of a journal published by the Korean Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Association. The research types and levels are also analyzed, and the journals are classified by subject, diagnosis, application of PNF, and technique used when PNF is applied. All of the variables are classified in five-year units and their trends are examined. Results: A total of 315 papers were published in 40 issues, and 1190 keywords were used over 15 years. The most frequently used keyword was "PNF." For the keywords that coincided with the MeSH, there were 235 (19.74%) complete coincidence words, 167 (14.03%) incomplete coincidence words, and 788 (66.21%) complete incoincidence words. Thus, the number of complete incoincidence words was the largest. For research types, there were 196 (61.90%) experimental studies, which was the most studied research type. For research levels, there were 155 (49.21%) Level 3 studies (non-randomized trial), which was the research level with the largest number of papers. Normal people were the most common subjects (121 cases, 38.41%), and the number of papers that did not use PNF was 187 (59.37%), which was larger than those that used PNF. The most frequently used combination technique was isotonics when PNF was used. Conclusion: Basic data on PNF-related research was obtained by analyzing papers published over the past 15 years. This information can be used to suggest future directions for PNF research.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of using the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) contract-relax technique in the close kinetic chain position on the gait ability and gastrocnemius muscle tone of stroke patients. Methods: The subjects were patients who had strokes due to cerebrum infarction and hemorrhage. The subjects participated in exercise with the PNF contract-relax technique in the standing-on-elbow position with a high table, and the affected lower leg was placed in the posterior position. The PNF contract-relax technique was applied at the position in which the ankle plantar-flexors were in a sufficiently elongated position. After performing twice in each range, while the muscle was elongated, the affected side was moved further back and a new range was set. In each session, the time of contraction was set to 8 seconds, and the resting time was set to 5 seconds; however, if the patient felt tired, they received more resting time during the intervention. The Myoton Pro and 10 m walking test were used to measure the muscle tone and gait ability both pre- and post-intervention. Results: After participating in the program, the muscle tone decreased and the gait ability improved in the ankle plantar-flexors, as determined by the Myoton Pro and 10 m walking test. Conclusion: The PNF contract-relax technique can help to decrease muscle tone in ankle plantar-flexors with hypertonus and increase the gait ability in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of Contract-Relax Technique of PNF(Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) and taping treatment on the ROM(Range of Motion), pain and gait speed of osteoarthrits of knee. Methods : In this study K hall for the aged were selected. Twenty-six subjects with osteoarthrits participated in the experiment. The subjects were partitioned into two groups are 13person PNF group and 13person taping group. All subjects randomly assigned to the PNF treatment group and taping treatment group. Both group received treatment for 3times a week during 4 weeks. (PNF group received treatment for twenty times at once). Algometer and VAS(Visual Analogue Scale) were used to measure pain, the ROM was meaured using goniometer and gait speed was measured using a stopwatch (30m-test). All measurements of each subject were measured at pre-treatment and post-treatment. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 11.5 using t-test. Results : The PNF group had a significantly increase of knee extension ROM and significantly decrease of pain after treatment 4 weeks(P<0.05). The taping group had a significantly increase of knee extension ROM and gait speed and significantly decrease of pain after treatment 4 weeks(P<0.05). Conclusion : These data suggests that PNF is beneficial to increase knee extension ROM and to decrease pain. Taping is beneficial to increase knee extension ROM and gait speed and to decrease of pain.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) wrist taping, after the application of a rhythmic stabilization (RS) technique, on the decrease of pain and the increase of grip strength in physical therapists who complained of wrist pain and to provide basic data on interventions for wrist pain patients. Methods: The subjects were 15 peoples in their 20s who complained of pain with a visual analogue scale (VAS) at five points or higher due to overuse of their wrists. They were randomly assigned to a control group, to which PNF wrist taping was applied after stretching (n=7), or to an experimental group (n=8), to which PNF wrist taping was applied after application of the RS technique of PNF. The experiment was conducted for four weeks, five times per week. VAS was measured in order to measure pain decrease, and grip strength (GS) was measured using a dynamometer. In order to compare within-group differences before and after the intervention, a paired t-test was performed, and in order to compare differences between the two groups, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used. All statistically significant levels were set at ${\alpha}=0.05$. Results: There were significant differences in changes of VAS and GS within each group before and after the intervention (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study applied PNF wrist taping after the application of stretching or PNF RS to patients who complained of pain beyond a sense of discomfort; these interventions resulted in a decrease in pain and an increase in the grip strength of the subjects. Taping and therapeutic techniques using PNF are considered to be usefully applied as one of the programs to improve wrist pain patients' pain and grip strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: The study examined the effects of non-elastic taping on the knee and ankle joints of stroke patients to increase muscle activity, balance and gait ability. METHODS: In this study, 10 stroke patients were assigned to experimental group (knee and ankle joint non-elastic taping and PNF technique) and control group (PNF technique). The experimental group applied the PNF technique for 30 minutes after attaching the inelastic tape, and the control group performed the PNF technique for 30 minutes. five times a week for a total of four weeks (20 times). RESULTS: The muscle activity of Vastus Medialis and Tiblialis Anterior showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups. BBS and 10MWT also showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, the muscle activity, balance and walking on the paraplegic side of stroke patients using inelastic taping, and applied inelastic taping on two joints in a different way from the previous study, Therefore, it will have the advantage of increasing paralysis side muscle activity and improving balance and walking ability.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.433-441
• /
• 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
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.63-74
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to compare hamstring flexibility and pressure pain threshold (PPT) after an intervention with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation contract-relax (PNF CR) technique, myofascial release (MFR), and a massage gun (MG), as well as to verify the effectiveness of the MG. Methods: This study recruited 36 participants (22 males and 14 females) with shortening of less than 70 degrees upon a straight leg raise (SLR) test, and they were randomly assigned to one of the PNF, MG, and MFR groups, each of which underwent its own protocol for 30 minutes. Flexibility of the hamstring was measured after the intervention using the active and passive knee extension (AKE and PKE) test, the sit and reach test, and PPT. Results: The AKE and PKE angles significantly decreased, as well as significantly increased in flexibility when each of the PNF, MFR, and MG interventions was performed (p<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference among groups. However, according to the Cohen's D effect size, the MG demonstrated the largest effect size in AKE (d = 1.41) and PNF demonstrated the largest effect size in PKE (d = 1.66) and flexibility (d = 0.63). Conclusion: All interventions used in our study are effective in increasing hamstring flexibility. Based on the Cohen's D effect size, an MG is beneficial to increase the AKE, whereas PNF CR technique is recommended for increasing PKE and flexibility.