PNF Flashcards
define proprioceptive
-stimulation of sensory receptors which provide information concerning body position and mvt
what does PNF stand for?
proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
what is PNF?
a treatment technique focusing on stimulating proprioceptors using diagonal and rotational movement patterns that are functional and reflect everyday life
what are the aims of PNF?
-to facilitate and promote functional mvt through excitation and inhibition of appropriate muscle groups
-stimulate proprioceptive system as a basis for muscle re-education
-stretch muscles to stimulate activity of muscle spindles
what is the stretching technique used in PNF?
contraction of the muscle that is to be stretched for a few seconds
followed by stretching the muscle
what is reciprocal innervation?
-contraction of agonistic muscle is accompanied by a simultaneous inhibition of a antagonist ie reflex repsonse
eg knee jerk reflex
what is successive induction?
contraction of the antagonistic muscle immediately prior to the stimulation of the agonist
-this increases excitation of the agonist
what is irradiation?
-a principle of over flow
-occurs when either the strength or the number of stimuli is increased
what are the main principles of PNF?
-stretch
-patterns of movement
-timing
-manual contact
-maximal resistance
-irradiation / overflow
-verbal commands
-body position and mechanics
describe stretch in PNF
stretch the muscle to stimulate activity of muscle spindle
-the position of stretch (start position) - muscle is fully lengthened
describe patterns of movement in PNF
-do PROM in preparation
-diagonal functional movements
what is important to know about verbal commands from physio to the pt during PNF?
- needs to be short, clear and concise (giving lots of info in short way)
-need to say what to do, when to do it
-give feedback to pt
list examples of techniques In PNF
-hold relax
-contract relax
-rhythmic stabilisation
-rhythmic initiation
-repeated contraction
-repeated stretch
-slow reversals
what things can stretching techniques help with and what are examples of these techniques?
-ROM, relaxation and inhibition of muscle
-eg hold - relax, contract-relax
what are the upper extremity techniques for PNF?
D1- moving into flexion
D2- moving into extension
explain positioning for upper extremity D1
Upper Extremity D1 Flexion Starting Position
Shoulder extended, abducted, and internally rotated
Forearm pronated
Wrist ulnarly deviated
Fingers extended
-therapist place hand in pt palm
-moving to end position
Shoulder flexed, adducted, and externally rotated
Forearm supinated
Wrist radially deviated
Fingers flexed
list clinical applications of PNF
Orthopaedics, Medical Rehabilitation, Neurology
Post trauma
Spinal Cord Injury patient
Re-educate co-ordination/joint or trunk stability
Stroke patient
Sports rehabilitation
what are examples of contraindications and precautions of PNF?
Recent fracture
Painful joint, inflamed joint, unstable joint
Rheumatoid arthritis
Spasticity
Malignancy
Bone disease
Congenital bone deformity
