PNF

Question 1

what does PNF stand for?

Answer 1

proprioceptive nueromuscular facilitation

Question 2

what are the 2 types of PNF techniques?

Answer 2

1. autogenic inhibition

2. reciprocal inhibition

Question 3

what is the autogenic inhibition technique (in terms of which muscle is stretched/contracted)

Answer 3

• stretch the antagonist muscle
• then work the antagonist muscle to contract it
  (muscle which is stretched would be the same muscle to be contracted)

Question 4

what is the reciprocal inhibition technique?

Answer 4

• stretch the antagonist muscle
• work to contract the agonist muscle
  (antagonist muscle stretches while agonist muscles contract)

Question 5

what are the mechanisms behind autogenic inhibtion?

Answer 5

• GTO record change in muscle tension (shortening of muscles) at the tendon
• when muscle tension exceeds a certain treshold, GTO sends a signal to the brain
• the brain then sends a signal to the same muscles to cause them to lengthen and to prevent them from contracting any further

Question 6

what are the mechanisms behind reciprocal inhibition

Answer 6

• muscle spindle fibres detect a change in agonist muscle tension
• spindle fibres send a signal to the spine which then sends a signals to the antagonist muscles
• this causes the inhibition of antagonist muscle action
• action of agonist muscle fibres are facilitated
• agonist muscle undergoes further contraction

Question 7

what are contraindicators to PNF techniques?

Answer 7

• bony blocks
• recent fractures
• acute inflammation
• sharp acute pain when moving joint
• acute haemotoma

Question 8

what do we need to consider when carrying out PNF techniques?

Answer 8

• body positioning of physio
• comfort of patients
• amount of resistance
• how to provide resistance
• which muscle to stretch - agonist/antagonist?
• manual contacts