Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Front 1

What are splinter skills?

Back 1

Skills that are not easily generalized to other environments or variations of the same task

Front 2

What is the rhythmic initiation technique used in PNF?

Back 2

Phase of voluntary relaxation, passive movement and repeated dynamic contractions of the major muscle groups involved in the agonist pattern of movement; it works PROM to AROM; used to improve flexibility and begin motor learning

Front 3

What is the slow reversal technique used in PNF?

Back 3

involves a slow dynamic contraction of the antagonist followed smoothly by a slow dynamic contraction of the agonist;

Front 4

Name some rhythmic patterns we use daily.

Back 4

Walking and running, putting on a shirt

Front 5

What is the slow reversal hold technique used in PNF?

Back 5

Same as slow reversal EXCEPT you add an isometric contractions at the extremes in the range.

Front 6

What is the rhythmic stabilization technique used in PNF?

Back 6

Isometric contraction of the antagonists, followed by isometric contraction of the agonist; it can be used to improve strength, stability, and motor learning

Front 7

What is the hold relax (contract relax) technique?

Back 7

The therapist asks the patient to contract the tight muscle isometrically against the therapist's (or body part) for roughly 20 seconds. The patient then relaxes while the therapist lengthens the tight muscle and applies a stretch at the newly found end range. This technique utilizes the golgi tendon organ, which inhibits a muscle after a sustained contraction that lasts longer than 6 seconds.

Front 8

What is the contract-relax with antagonist contract (aka hold-relax contract) technique?

Back 8

Similar to the Hold-Relax, the patient isometrically contracts the tight muscle against the therapist's resistance. After a 20 second hold, the therapist removes his/her hand and the patient concentrically contracts the antagonist muscle (the muscle opposite the tight muscle, the non-tight muscle) in order to gain increased range of motion. At the end of this new range, the therapist applies a static stretch before repeating the process again.

Front 9

What is the hold-relax-swing/hold-relax-bounce technique?

Back 9

They start with a passive stretching by the therapist followed by an isometric contraction. The difference is that at the end, instead of an antagonist muscle contraction or a passive stretching, involves the use of dynamic stretching and ballistic stretching. It is very risky, and is successfully used only by people that have managed to achieve a high level of control over their muscle stretch reflex (*do not recommend you using this!).

Front 10

In what part of the range are your muscles the strongest?

Back 10

mid-range

Front 11

When do you use a quick stretch?

Back 11

at the beginning of the pattern to encourage activity in the muscle spindles

Front 12

Is timing proximal to distal or distal to proximal?

Back 12

Distal to proximal (always initiated the movement in this pattern)

Front 13

How can a therapist provide sensory input during PNF?

Back 13

using their hand to guide movement and provide resistance

Front 14

whenever possible, manual contact is made over which muscle groups/their tendons? Agonist or antagonist?

Back 14

agonist

Front 15

When do you use traction and what does it facilitate?

Back 15

at the beginning of the pattern; facilitates movement

Front 16

When do you use approximation and what does it facilitate?

Back 16

can be used anywhere in the movement; facilitates stability

Front 17

How are visual cues executed?

Back 17

patients are asked to follow the movements with the eyes to enhance control of the movement

Front 18

Against resistance, what muscles are used during UE D1 flexion? Not against resistance, what muscles are used?

Back 18

scapular - upper trap & serratus (at 90 degrees it switches to lower trap and serratus)
Rotator cuff - Infraspinatus, teres minor, & subscap
GH joint - ant deltoid, pec major


Not against resistance - the same, but eccentrically

Front 19

Against resistance, what muscles are used during UE D1 extension? Not against resistance, what muscles are used?

Back 19

Scapular - rhomboids
GH joint - post delt, lats, teres major, triceps

Not against resistance - the same, but eccentrically

Front 20

Against resistance, what muscles are used during UE D2 flexion?

Back 20

Scapular - upper trap & serratus (moves to lower trap at 90)
Rotator cuff - ITS
GH joint - post delt

Front 21

Against resistance, what muscles are used during UE D2 extension?

Back 21

Scapular - levator & rhomboids
Rotator Cuff - all 4 mm
GH joint - pec major

Front 22

What muscles are used during LE straight legged D1 flexion?

Back 22

hip flexors - iliopsoas, rectus femoris, sartorius
IR - glut max & med
Adductors

Front 23

What muscles are used during LE straight legged D1 extension?

Back 23

Hip extensors
ER
Abductors

Front 24

What muscles are used during LE straight legged D2 flexion?

Back 24

IR
Hip flexors
abductor
(THE TFL!)

Front 25

What muscles are used during LE straight legged D2 extension?

Back 25

ER
hip extenders
(GLUT MAX!)