PNF Flashcards
Neuromuscular facilitation
promoting or encouraging normal activity of the neuromuscular system
Proprioceptive
pertaining to the proprioceptors/sensory inputs
Continuous Sensory input
Provided by:
-manual contacts to assist, resist, block, and/ or guide motion
-verbal guidance to cue, coach, enforce
-visual feedbacl
PNF
utilized to improve strength, neuromuscular control, increase flexibility, range of motion, and facilitate stability
General indicators for PNF (4)
- to decrease abnormal muscle tone
- to promote optimal, coordinated movement
- to increase strength and endurance
- to stretch tight muscles
PNF Theory
the muscle groups (agonist, antagonist, supports, fixators) in specific movement patterns must contract in a certain order or sequence. Contractions are static or dynamic.
PNF Goals
Goal: to strengthen gross motor patterns instead of specific muscle actions. Movement in patterns encourage muscle groups to assist weaker muscles.
Facilitation: creates and increase in excitability of motor neurons. Weak muscles.
Inhibition: creates a decrease in excitability of motor neurons. Spasticity ot tightness of muscles.
Neuroirradiation (overflow)
activating weak muscles surrounding strong ones; overflow of electrical impulses of surrounding muscles.
Hold-Relax (stretching)
Autogenic inhibition(GTO)
* Affected body part moved until resistance (gentle stretch) is felt- this muscle is considered the “agonist.”
- Isometric hold (5-10 sec), PT provides resistance.
- Voluntary relaxation of limiting muscle (agonist)
- Passive movement of limb to obtain an increase in range as the range limiting (tight) muscle is elongated.
- Repeat 3-4x
Contract-Relax (stretching)
Reciprocal Inhibition (MS)
* Affected body part moved until resistance (gentle stretch is felt)
- Pt. performs a concentric isotonic contraction of muscle opposite being stretched (antagonist), PT must apply some resistance.
- Duration 5-10 sec
- Voluntary relaxation
- PT passively moved limb into “new range.”
- Repeat 3-4x
Hold-Relax-Antagonist Contract (stretching)
Limitation in elbow extension
* PT moves arm to point of limitation.
- PT applies resistance to distal forearm as pt. begins to activate biceps, PT instruction to pt. “hold” isometric contraction of biceps for 5-10 sec
- Relaxation of biceps
- Followed by concentric contraction of triceps extending the elbow.
- Hold in “new range for 10-15 sec
- Repeat above sequence several times.
Rhythmic Initiation (strengthening)
Used with pts. that are unable to initiate movement and who have limited ROM because of an increase in tone
- Directed at agonist movers.
- Also utilized to teach pt. a movement pattern.
- Begin with passive movement, then active assistive, followed by active movement without resistance.
- Movement is slow and goes through the available ROM
Repeated Contraction (strengthening)
Used for pts. that demonstrate weakness at a specific point in the pattern (ROM) or throughout the entire pattern (ROM).
- Directed at agonist movers
- Assists in correcting an imbalance that occurs within the pattern (ROM) by repeating the weakest portion of the total range.
- Repeated, dynamic contractions of agonist concentrically against their maximal resistance until muscle fatigue. Resistance might need to be adjusted to accommodate strength of pt.
Slow Reversal
(strengthening)
Isotonic contraction of the agonist muscle followed immediately by an isotonic contraction of the antagonist muscle.
- Useful in the development of active ROM and normal reciprocal timing of the agonist and antagonist muscles
- Reversal of agonists
*Same as repeated contraction but in both directions
Slow reversal hold (strengthening)
Isotonic contraction of the agonist followed by an immediate isometric contraction with a command of “hold” at the end of the active range
- Useful for developing strength at a specific point in the active ROM
- Reversal of agonists
*Same as slow reversal but with an isometric contraction hold at the end. Doesn’t have to be in both directions. Can do at any point of the range
