Acute effects of different proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stabilization techniques on the balance of elderly women.

AIM: To compare the acute effects of rhythmic stabilization (RS) and stabilizer reversal (SR) techniques of PNF on the balance of sedentary elderly women. METHODS: Women aged (≥70) were allocated into three groups: RS, SR and control (CR). The experimental groups (RS and SR) performed balance exercises with the addition of rhythmic stabilization techniques (RS group) or with stabilizers reversal (SR group) for 15 min. The CR group performed the exercises without adding the PNF stabilization techniques. Participants performed the Time Up and Go (TUG) test, the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and static and dynamic stabilometry pre and post intervention. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparison between groups and post hoc analysis, respectively, with p ≤ 0.05. For the effect size measurements, the r for Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney signal were used. RESULTS: For functional tests intra-group analysis, a reduction in TUG time and an increase in FRT range (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in RS e SR groups. Stabilometry analysis showed a significant difference only for the RS group, with reduced average velocity of the centre of pressure (COP), and an increased in the left foot pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A single RS or SR session reduced the TUG time and the range distance in the FRT in elderly women. A single session of the RS technique was also able to reduce the mean velocity of the COP and the maximum pressure on the left foot. IMPACT: This study shows an easy-to-apply methods without additional materials that can help prevent falls in the elderly.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation induces muscle irradiation to the lower limbs - A cross-sectional study with healthy individuals.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) in promoting muscle irradiation to the lower limbs and to relate these findings with muscle activation during the sit-to-stand task. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy women were recruited via convenience sampling and submitted to four PNF patterns: upper limb pattern with flexion-abduction-external rotation (UL), lower limb pattern with flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (lower limb pattern 1 [LL1]), lower limb pattern with flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (lower limb pattern 2 [LL2]), and lifting to the right. Electromyography was recorded from the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and soleus during the PNF patterns and during the sit-to-stand task. RESULTS: The most recruited muscles during the sit-to-stand task were the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and soleus (p < 0.05). Lifting to the right induced the greatest activation of the gluteus maximus (p < 0.001). Lifting to the right and LL2 were better than UL at recruiting the gluteus medius (p < 0.05). Lifting to the right and LL1 were better than UL at recruiting the vastus medialis and lateralis (p < 0.05; p < 0.05). and Lower limb pattern 1 and 2 were better than UL at recruiting the soleus muscle (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PNF can be used to induce muscle irradiation to maintain or improve muscle activity to the muscles recruited during the sit-to-stand task. The best PNF pattern for inducing muscle irradiation to muscles recruited during the sit-to-stand task are lifting to the right, LL2, and LL1.

Motor learning with the PNF-concept, an alternative to constrained induced movement therapy in a patient after a stroke; a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Over sixteen million people suffer a stroke each year. Stroke is characterized by a one-sided paresis. Upper extremity and hand function are most limited. The current view on "neuro rehabilitation" advocates a constrained induced movement therapy (CIMT) setting. This case report seeks to illustrate the clinical reasoning and the feasibility of applying an alternative approach in patients who are not accepted or not suitable for the constrained induced movement therapy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A male patient, 68 years of age, developed impairments in his right arm and hand, such as loss of range of motion and strength besides spasticity after a stroke. This resulted in a loss of dexterity in his affected right side and in "disuse" of that arm and hand. PATIENT MANAGEMENT: A therapy was designed based upon the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation-concept (PNF-concept) and consisting of PNF pattern exercises in a functional task setting with specified PNF-principles of facilitations and PNF-techniques for motor re-learning activities, over a period of six weeks. This resulted in clinical important improvements of wrist extension, grip strength, spasticity, dexterity and patient satisfaction with specific tasks. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The provided comprehensive therapy mimics CIMT and robotics. The approach addresses possibly motor learning effects, cortical reorganization and structural impairments. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) - diagonal movement patterns have been described as: "having beneficial effects in cortical adaptations and cortical organization resulting in motor learning effects". In cases where CIMT is difficult to apply, a specified PNF-based therapy has shown to be a feasible alternative.