Earticle

Purpose: The current study seeks to examine the effects of stabilizing reversal(SR) and rhythmic stabilization(RS) in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on static balance in normal female adults. Methods: Subjects included 20 healthy women in their 20s. They were randomly divided into SR and RS groups. To assess static balance before and after PNF intervention, the good balance system was used to measure the interior and exterior center of pressure (COP) movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance before and after the intervention, and velocity moment. Results: Interior and exterior COP movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance, and velocity moment decreased in the SR group, but no statistically significant differences were observed. In the RS group, the interior and exterior COP movement distance declined without any significant difference, while the front and rear COP movement distance and velocity moment significantly decreased. The interior and exterior COP movement distance, front and rear COP movement distance, and velocity moment declined more in the RS group than in the SR group. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that the RS technique is more effective than the SR technique for improving the balance ability of healthy female adults. The results of this study can thus be utilized in the selection of effective interventions for improving the balance ability of healthy female adults.

Purpose: The current study seeks to examine the effect of coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities using harnesses and walking rails on the walking and balance abilities of chronic stroke patients, and to develop effective programs and training methods to improve the functions of such patients. Methods: Subjects included 16 patients with hemiplegia caused by stroke. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=8), on which coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities were conducted, and a comparison group (n=8) that received typical exercise therapy. The experimental group underwent 30 minutes of typical exercise therapy and 30 minutes of coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities, while the comparison group underwent typical exercise therapy for 30 minutes twice a day, five days per week for a six-week period. To evaluate walking ability, 10-m walking tests (10MWT) and 6-m walking tests (6MWT) were conducted. To assess balance ability, timed up and go tests (TUG) were performed. Results: After the intervention, significant (p<0.05) differences were seen in the 10MWT, 6MWT, and TUG in both the experimental and comparison groups. As for the 10MWT, the experimental group showed more significant improvement than the comparison group (p<0.05). In terms of the 6MWT, no significant differences were found between the groups, while the experimental group showed more significant differences than the comparison group in the TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results from the current research indicate that training programs that apply coordinative pattern exercises of the upper and lower extremities with harnesses are extremely effective for improving the walking and balance abilities of chronic stroke patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) relaxation technique (hold relax; HR, contract relax; CR) and static stretch (SS) on hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performance in healthy adults over a four-week period. Methods: Twenty-four healthy adults volunteered to participate in PNF and static stretch sessions. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: 8 subjects in the SS group, 8 subjects in the HR group, and 8 subjects in the CR group. In the HR and CR groups, contractions lasted 15 seconds per trial and consisted of 5 sets of 15 seconds of hamstring contraction immediately followed by 15 seconds of passive static hamstring stretching. For the static group, the participants were asked to stretch by hanging a leg over a table for 30 seconds. Subjects in all groups performed the exercises three days per week for 4 weeks. The active straight leg raising (ASLR) test, active knee extension (AKE) test, and vertical jump test were performed before the intervention and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Results: The SS, HR, and CR techniques effected positive improvement in hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performances but neither of the stretching methods had any statistically significant different effects according to group, although there were interactions (between group and time) in the ALSR group from 1 week to 2 week and in the AKE test from pretest to 1 week. Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, SS, HR, and CR were shown to affect hamstring flexibility and vertical jump performance in healthy adults. In particular, it was determined that within a short period, hamstring flexibility could be attributed more to CR than to SS.

Purpose: The current study aims to identify the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on pain and grip strength in patients with cervical herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) and provide effective interventions for such patients. Methods: Included in this study were 20 subjects (10 men, 10 women) in their 30s–50s who had been diagnosed with cervical HIVD. Intervention methods included PNF neck patterns, dynamic reversal of antagonists, and a combination of isotonics. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure pain and dynamometers were used to measure grip strength. Results: After four weeks of muscle strengthening exercises, neck pain was significantly reduced, and hand grip strength significantly increased. Conclusion: PNF can be utilized as an effective intervention to reduce the pain of patients with cervical HIVD and to increase grip strength.

Purpose: The current study (case report) seeks to examine the effects of a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercise program on the upper extremity function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in a stroke patient. Methods: The subject was a 42 year-old woman diagnosed with right-sided hemiplegia due to stroke. Exercise therapy was provided for 50 minutes per day (5-minute warm-up, 40-minute exercise, 5-minute wrap-up) three times per week for a four-week period. The manual function test (MFT) was used to evaluate upper extremity functions. The modified Barthel index (MBI) was utilized to measure ADL. Results: After intervention using various PNF program, the MFT score increased from 23 to 26 and the MBI score increased from 62 to 66. Conclusion: After the application of the PNF program, the MFT and MBI scores increased. As compensative movement of the upper extremities declined, the movement of the upper extremities became faster and softer.

Purpose: The current study seeks to identify the effect of neck muscle strengthening exercise using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on the swallowing ability of patients diagnosed with dysphagia due to stroke. Methods: As a single case study, the current research conducted neck muscle strengthening exercise using PNF on the patient with dysphagia for 40 minutes, four times per week for a six-week period. At the same time, typical rehabilitation therapy for dysphagia was provided. This type of therapy included food-swallowing and the relation of the muscles surrounding the neck. The functional dysphagia scale and the penetration-aspiration scale were used to assess swallowing ability. Results: After the therapy, the functional dysphagia scale and the penetration-aspiration scale decreased by 18 points and 3 points, respectively, which proves the effectiveness of this type of therapy for dysphagia. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that neck muscle strengthening exercise using PNF reduces penetration-aspiration in patients with dysphagia, and that PNF can be clinically utilized to improve the swallowing ability of dysphagic patients.