PNF Patterns Flashcards
PNF Facilitation Component-Manual Contact
- Manual Contacts
- Placing hands on the skin stimulates
pressure receptors and provides
information to the patient about
desired motion.
• Therefore, placing hands the anterior
aspect of the upper arm will
facilitate shoulder flexion
• Placing hands on the anterior thigh
will facilitate hip flexion
PNF Facilitation Component-Manual Resistance
• Placing resistance against a motion
will facilitate that motion
• Therefore, resisting elbow flexion
will facilitate the patient’s elbow
flexors
PNF Facilitation- Approximation
- Approximation
- Placing force directly through the
joint surfaces stimulates joint
receptors and facilitates
- Muscle Co-contraction (pts with stroke)
- Weight-bearing
PNF Facilitation- Quick Stretch
• Applying a rapid
elongation of a muscle
will stimulate muscle
contraction
• Muscle Spindle
Velocity of stretch
Magnitude of stretch
PNF Patterns- UE D2 Flexion
“Lift The Sword”
- Motions
- Shoulder Flexion
- Shoulder External Rotation
- Shoulder Abduction
- Elbow Extension
- Forearm Supination
- Wrist Radial Deviation
- Wrist/Finger Extension
PNF Patterns- UE D2 Extension
“Reverse-Lift The Sword”
- Motions
- Shoulder Extension
- Shoulder Internal Rotation
- Shoulder Adduction
- Elbow Extension
- Forearm Pronation
- Wrist Ulnar Deviation
- Wrist/Finger Flexion
PNF Patterns- UE D1 Flexion
“Reverse-Backhand”/Smell the armpit
- Motions
- Shoulder Flexion
- Shoulder External Rotation
- Shoulder Adduction
- Elbow Extension
- Forearm Supination
- Wrist Radial Deviation
- Wrist/Finger Flexion
PNF Patterns- UE D1 Extension
- “Chop em”
- Motions
- Shoulder Extension
- Shoulder Internal Rotation
- Shoulder Abduction
- Elbow Extension
- Forearm Pronation
- Wrist Ulnar Deviation
- Wrist/Finger Extension
How do you determine the lead arm?
Basic Definition
• The arm that has the hand free is
considered the lead arm.
• The lead arm can be either the affected or
the non-affected extremity
• What determines the lead arm is the PNF
pattern that you are trying to achieve.
• D2 flexion pattern with the right arm leading
PNF Patterns- LE D2 Flexion
- “Fire Hydrant”
- Motions
- Hip Flexion
- Hip Abduction
- Hip Internal Rotation
- Knee Flexion
- Ankle Dorsiflexion
- Ankle Eversion
PNF Patterns-LE D2 Extension
- “Smooth Criminal”
- Motions
- Hip Extension
- Hip Adduction
- Hip External Rotation
- Knee Extension
- Ankle Plantarflexion
- Ankle Inversion
PNF Patterns- LE D1 Flexion
- “The Scottishman”/Gum on Bottom of Shoe
- Motions
- Hip Flexion
- Hip Adduction
- Hip External Rotation
- Knee flexion
- Ankle Dorsiflexion
- Ankle Inversion
PNF Patterns-LE D1 Extension
- “Reverse-Scottishman”
- Motions
- Hip Extension
- Hip Abduction
- Hip Internal Rotation
- Knee Extension
- Ankle Plantarflexion
- Ankle Eversion
Categories of PNF Techniques
• Mobility (flexibility, range of motion)
Ability to move from one position to the next freely, having the flexibility and
range of motion to complete the task
• Stability (strength, power, postural stability)
Ability to limit movement of the COM within a fixed BOS in an antigravity
position.
• Controlled Mobility (coordination)
Ability to maintain balance while with a moving COM within a fixed BOS.
• Skill
Ability to interact with an environment freely utilizing coordinated UE/LE movements. Both COM and BOS are changing.
Dominant UE Synergy
Shoulder ADD, Elbow Flexion, Forearm Pronation
PNF Techniques-Rhythmic Initiation and Rhythmic Rotation
• A sequential application of first passive
motion, then active-assistive, followed by
active or slight resistive motion.
• Typically used to assist with task such as
rolling
• Rhythmic rotation is used to reduce tone,
spasticity and rigidity…IT IS PASSIVE. Use in early phase
- What does this technique help with?
- Mobility (flexibility and range of motion)
PNF Techniques- Dynamic Reversals
- Slow Reversal (AKA Dynamic Reversals)
- Concentric contraction of muscles in the
agonist pattern is facilitated through manual
contacts followed by switching hands to other
side of limb to stimulate the antagonist
pattern. *YOU ARE RESISTING THEIR MOVEMENT WHILE MOVING WITH THEM IN THE AGONISTIC RANGE
- What does this technique help with?
- Mobility (Range of motion)
- Controlled Mobility (Coordination)
- Skill (Function)
PNF Techniques-Slow Reversal Hold
• A variation of the slow reversal where a
resisted isometric contraction is held at
the completion of the range in each
direction.
• Used when transitioning from mobility to
stability
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (strength)
*Isometrics is ALWAYS for stability
PNF Techniques-Rhythmic Stabilization
AKA Isometric Stabilizing Reversals
• A rotary resistive force is applied around a
target joint to facilitate a co-contraction. The
patient’s goal is to hold the static position
against an isometric resistance.
• Typically used to improve stability in
unsupported sitting
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (strength)
“Don’t Let me Move You”
PNF Techniques- Alternating Isometrics
• Isometric contractions of agonist and
antagonists are facilitated in an alternating
fashion.
• Typically used to improve stability in
unsupported sitting
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (strength)
PNF Techniques- Agonistic Reversals
- Agonistic Reversal (Combination of Isotonics)
- A technique characterized by resistance
to a concentric contraction, followed by
a stabilizing hold, resistance to an
eccentric contraction, and another
stabilizing hold.
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (Strength)
- Controlled Mobility (Coordination)
- Skill (Function)
PNF Techniques-Repeated Contractions
- Repeated Contractions
- A technique characterized by repeated
quick stretches to an elongated muscle
followed by an isotonic contraction in
the agonist pattern
• Used for patient’s who lack strength and
initiation of movement.
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (Strength)
PNF Techniques- Timing for Emphasis
- Timing For Emphasis
- A technique characterized by an
isometric contraction of strong muscles
while allowing only weak muscles to
allow for joint motion. Typically at a
more proximal joint. (e.g. the biceps)
• Used for patient’s who lack strength and
initiation of movement.
- What does this technique help with?
- Stability (Strength)
