The effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) on Muscle Strength of patient with stroke

Aims: Stroke is a local and sudden neurological disorder in the brain that can cause a decrease in muscle strength. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercises on the muscle strength of stroke patients. Materials and methods: The present study was a clinical trial design. The participants included ۶۰ stroke patients who were eligible to enter the study, who were selected by convenience sampling method and were assigned to intervention and control groups based on random block allocation. For the intervention group, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercises were performed for ۸ weeks and two sessions each week for ۳۰-۴۵ minutes, and the patients of the control group received only routine treatments. The data collection tool included a demographic information form and a muscle strength questionnaire. Data were collected before the intervention, immediately and ۴ weeks after the end of the last intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS version ۲۱ statistical software trough descriptive and inferential statistics considering the significance level of ۰.۰۵. Findings: The results showed that the average score of muscle strength in the three subscales of muscle degree, percentage of normality and muscle scale in the intervention group were ۱.۹±۰.۷, ۲۸±۱۲.۳, and ۲.۱±۰.۴ respectively before the study, Immediately after the intervention were ۲.۸±۰.۷, ۴۵±۱۹, ۲.۷±۰.۶ and one month after the intervention were ۳.۳±۰.۸, ۵.۱۹±۲ ۵۹, ۳.۴±۰.۷. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference comparing the mean score of muscle strength in the three subscales of muscle degree, percentage of normality and muscle scale  before and one month after the intervention (p=۰.۰۱). In the control group, the above subscales were ۲.۲±۰.۶, ۳۱±۱۳.۶ and ۲.۲±۰.۶ before the intervention, ۲.۴±۰.۸, ۳۷.۵۰±۱۴.۳, and ۲.۴±۰.۶, were immediately after the intervention, ۲.۴±۱, ۳۷.۸±۲۲.۴, ۲.۴±۰.۶ one month after the end of the intervention.  The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences before and after the intervention in control group (p=۰.۱). Conclusion: After the implementation of Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques, the muscle strength of stroke patients was improved, so if this issue is confirmed in other studies, the use of these techniques by the health care staff is suggested for these patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation ، Muscle Strength ، Stroke