• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise in the progressive sitting position on the dynamic balance ability of a patient with a cerebellar injury. Methods: The subject had ataxia due to cerebellar injury. The subject participated in a PNF bilateral scapular pattern exercise with stabilizing reversal technique during a progressive sitting position session as well as baseline for 20 minutes a day for 4 weeks. In the first session, PNF exercises were performed at a height of 40 cm for 10 minutes, and in the second session they were performed at 50 cm for 10 minutes from a lower center of gravity (COG) to a higher COG sitting position. We used the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) to measure the subject's dynamic balance ability every two days through the entire session. Results: After participating in the program, the subject's dynamic balance ability improved compared to the first baseline, as measured by BBS (2 points increased), FTSST (5.3 sec decreased), and TUGT (2 sec decreased). The increase was also maintained in the second baseline session. Conclusion: PNF exercise using bilateral scapula patterns with a stabilizing reversal technique helps to enhance the dynamic balance ability of a cerebellar injury patient.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to examined the effects of upper and lower limb coordinated exercise of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on static and dynamic balance ability. Methods: The subjects of this study were 18 patients who had been diagnosed with a stroke and hospitalized and who had received rehabilitation treatment at D rehabilitation hospital located in J city. They were randomly and equally assigned to a PNF upper and lower limb coordinated exercise group and an ordinary central nervous system development and treatment group, and they conducted exercises for eight weeks. They carried out exercise three times per week, for 30 minutes per each time. After each four minutes of exercise, each participant was given a and rest for one minute after exercise for four minutes was given. In order to test the subjects' static and dynamic balance ability and their dynamic balance ability, frailty and injuries,: a cooperative studyies of intervention techniques (FICSIT-4) test, a four- step square test (FSST), a timed up and go test (TUG), and a TWT3M tests wasere conducted before and after the exercise. Descriptive statistics were taken for the general characteristics of the subjects, and an independent t-test was conducted both before and after the exercise in order to examine differences between the two groups before and after the exercise were conducted. The A statistical significance level was set at p= 0.05. Results: In all the tests (of FICSIT-4, FSST, TUG, and TWT3M), both the experimental group and the control group saw more improved results, but the experimental group's results were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the size of the effects was larger in the experimental group than in the control group, with statistically significant results. Conclusion: PNF upper and lower limb coordinated exercise applied to chronic stroke patients produced brought significant results in static and dynamic balance ability. PNF and is considered as an important intervention program to improve stroke patients' balance ability.

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

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2006

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on stroke patients' recovery of their balancing and walking abilities. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 patients aged at least 60 years and diagnosed with stroke. The patients were randomly assigned to either a PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise group of 15 patients or an aero-step balance exercise group of 15 patients. To test the subjects' balancing and walking abilities, balancing ability tests and 10-m walking speed tests were conducted before and after the interventions. The patients performed their respective exercises for 30 minutes per session, three times per week for four weeks. The PNF exercise group performed six stages of exercise consisting of a combination of PNF patterns such as sprinting, skating, and striking. The six stages (right striking, right skating, right sprinting, left striking, left skating, and left sprinting) were performed continuously with a rest period of 1 min. after training for 4 min. The exercises for the aero-step balance group consisted of balancing in a two-leg standing position, weight shifting in a two-leg standing position, one-leg standing, squat exercises, marching in place, and squatting on an aero step. Results: The PNF exercise group showed significant improvements in their balancing ability evaluations compared to the aero-step balance group and also showed significant improvements in their 10-m walking speed tests. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, PNF upper- and lower-limb coordinated exercise resulted in clinical improvements of stroke patients' balancing and walking abilities. Therefore, this type of exercise is recommended as a clinical intervention for the recovery of stroke patients' lower-limb function. Future studies should be conducted with longer intervention periods and more subjects to generalize the study results.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.6767-6773
• /
• 2014

The study examined the effects of trunk pattern exercise in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) integrated transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the muscle activity and balance, walking speed in stroke patient. Thirty-one patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or control group (n=16). Both groups performed trunk pattern training in PNF for 3 times per week over a 6 week period for 20 minutes per session. The experimental group performed additional tDCS for 20 minutes. A comparison of the two groups after the intervention showed that the exercise program in experimental group had a more significant on the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and balance than the control group (p<.05). This showed that trunk pattern exercise in PNF integrated tDCS had a positive effect on the functional recovery of the lower extremity in stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to determine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pectoralis minor stretching and lower trapezius strengthening exercise on posture change, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and pain in rotator cuff repair patients with a rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Methods: Following baseline measurements, the subjects (n = 25) with rotator cuff repair were randomized into two groups: the PNF group (n = 13), which engaged in PNF pectoralis minor stretching and lower trapezius strengthening exercise, and the control group (n = 12), which received traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention five times per week for two weeks. The RSP values for the postural changes, flexion and abduction ROM, and visual analogue scales (VASs) of both groups were recorded at both pre- and post-intervention. In addition, before and after the intervention, a paired t-test was conducted to compare the within-group changes and an independent t-test to compare the between-group differences. Results: After the two-week intervention, both groups experienced significantly decreased RSP and VAS values (p < 0.05) and a significantly increased ROM (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the PNF group showed greater improvements in RSP, ROM, and VAS than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that PNF pectoralis minor stretching and lower trapezius strengthening exercise reduce posture and shoulder pain and enhance ROM in rotator cuff repair patients with RSP.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the combined patterns of PNF(proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) on the static balance ability. Methods : The measurements of the static balance ability were completed by 10 subjects for 6 weeks, from October to November 2007. The combined patterns of PNF were carried out by means of self-exercising suggested by Dietz, which were designed as four cases: two positions (standing and quadruped) for both patterns(sprinter and skater), respectively. The exercises were practiced once a day, 3 times a week in same condition. By using the GOOD BALANCE system, assessment of the static balance ability was taken at before and after exercise from 6 positions: normal standing, one leg left and one leg right standing when eye open and close, respectively. For each case, the experimental data was obtained in 3 items: mean X speed, mean Y speed and velocity moment. Results : The results of this study were as follows : 1. There were statistically significant differences of Mean X speed, Mean Y speed and Velocity moment between the before and the after exercise in the case of normal standing when eye open and close(NSEO and NSEC), respectively. 2. There was statistically significant difference of Mean X speed between the before and the after exercise in the case of one leg left standing when eye open(OLLEO). In this case, however, the statistically significant differences were not found in both terms of Mean Y speed and Velocity moment. 3. There were statistically significant differences of Mean X speed and Mean Y speed between the before and the after exercise in the case of one leg left standing when eye close(OLLEC). In this case, however, the statistically significant difference was not found in term of Velocity moment. 4. There were statistically significant differences of Mean X speed, Mean Y speed and Velocity moment between the before and the after exercise in the case of one leg right standing when eye close(OLREC). 5. There was statistically significant difference of Mean X speed between the before and the after exercise in the case of one leg right standing when eye open(OLREO). In this case, however, the statistically significant differences were not found in both terms of Mean Y speed and Velocity moment. 6. There were statistically significant differences of total Mean X speed, total Mean Y speed and total Velocity moment between the before and the after exercise. Conclusions : The above results from this study indicated that the combined patterns of PNF have improved the static balance ability. However the used self-exercise can be applied to normal people, i.e., the exercise is difficult to apply into clinical patients. The further study should be focused at development of various modified forms of the combined patterns of PNF in keeping up the improvement effect of this exercise.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.73-88
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out The effect of Low back pain on the total pattens of Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation(PNF). Methods : The subjects of the study were 62 low back pain patients. They were divided into two groups: 31 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group. the experimental group performed modalities and PNF total patterns three times for a week. the control group performed only modalities and ROM exercise three times for a week. Back muscle strength was measured by a back muscle strength measuring machine, the intensity of pain was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the level of disability was measured by Oswestry low back pain disability index. Study measurements were compared before and after 6 weeks exercise program. The two groups of subjects were assessed by utilizing two different balance measurement: Static standing balance was measured by balance performance monitor (BPM) and Dynamic standing balance was measured by one leg standing(OLS). The scale for static standing balance was measured by using, sway area, sway path, max velocity. Results : The results of this study were as follow: 1) The score on visual analogue scale shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 2) The score on Oswestry low back pain disability index. shows statistically significant decrease on PNF group of post test(p<.05). 3) The change sway area was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 4) The change sway path was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 5) The change max velocity was statistically significant on pre-test and post-test(p<.05). 6) The score on one leg standing shows statistically significant increase on PNF group of post test(p<.05). Conclusion : These results of this study indicated that Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Total patterns which performed for six weeks had a statistically significant influence on low back pain. If the exercise for muscle strength is performed along with therapeutic stabilizing exercise, a better effect can be expected on low back pain. We hope that this study will provide a basic data for further research with a bigger group and on a long-term effect.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.1739-1745
• /
• 2019

Background: There have been many studies on self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching, but there are few comparative studies on the effects of massages using a release ball, which is a type of the SMR method. Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of release ball massage and self-stretching on proprioceptive sensory, hamstring's temperature, range of motion (ROM) muscle strength,. Design: Crossover study. Methods: Thirty women in 20's at S University in Busan voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were random to release ball group (n=15) or self-stretching group (n=15). Both groups performed 3 sets of exercises, stretching for 30 seconds and resting for 15 seconds in each position. The proprioceptive sensory, temperature of the hamstring muscle, ROM, and strength were measured before exercise, 5 minutes after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise. Results: Release ball group showed significant differences in muscle length and temperature over time (p<.05). The comparison between two group over time showed significant differences in muscle length, temperature, and muscle strength (p<.05). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that release ball massage and self-stretching are beneficial for improving hamstring's temperature, ROM and muscle strength.