Abstract
Objective
To review the current evidence for the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation (PNF) techniques on gait parameters in patients with stroke.
Data Sources
The electronic platforms of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Physiotherapy Evidence
Database were searched using the relevant search terms.
Study Selection
Intervention studies that had gait parameters as an outcome and in which PNF techniques
were used in a poststroke population were reviewed. The studies were reviewed by both
authors and a consensus was reached. The literature search identified 84 studies.
Following screening, there were 5 studies that met the inclusion criteria for this
review.
Data Extraction
Data were extracted from the studies by both authors and independently reviewed. Methodological
quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale of randomized
controlled trials and with the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies for
nonrandomized controlled trials.
Data Synthesis
Treatment using the PNF method led to a statistically significant improvement in gait
outcome measures in patients with stroke in all the studies. Three of the studies
also found that groups treated with PNF techniques had a significantly greater improvement
in outcome measures than groups that received routine physiotherapy treatment.
Conclusions
Although some limitations were identified in the methodological quality of the studies,
current research suggests that PNF is an effective treatment for the improvement of
gait parameters in patients with stroke. Further research is needed to build a robust
evidence base in this area.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
BWSTT (body weight–supported treadmill training), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation), RCT (randomized controlled trial)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: December 21, 2018
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
