A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION (PNF) TECHNIQUES ON MUSCLE FLEXIBILITY AMONG EXTENDED SITTING POSTURE INDIVIDUALS

Authors : Rahul Krishnan Kutty, Ong Sıew Chee, Suvınlal Stalın, Sonıa Dewan, Nisha Vijayan Acharry

Pages : 20-28

Doi:10.21653/tjpr.1076651

View : 197 | Download : 192

Publication Date : 2024-04-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of different Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching techniques for hamstring muscle tightness, and to find out the best PNF technique for improving hamstring flexibility. Methods: In this quasi-experimental designed study, 30 university students who were between 18-25 years-old, sitting >6 hours per day, and had a Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) >20º were recruited with convenience sampling and equally allocated into Group A, B and C, non-randomly. Hold-Relax (HR), Agonist Contraction (AC) and Contract-Relax-Antagonist-Contract (CRAC) stretching techniques were given respectively, 3 sessions/week, for three weeks. Results: Paired t-test showed significant effect of each technique compared between pre-test value and post-test value of AKET measurements of Hold-relax (HR), AC and CRAC groups (p<.001). One-way ANOVA results showed significant difference between the effects of these techniques (F(2,27)=13.069, p<.001). Tukey Post-Hoc test revealed that effect was significantly greater in CRAC (-20.033°±2.666°, p<.001) and AC groups (-17.516°±1.658º, p=.047) than HR (-15.100°±2.025°). Furthermore, CRAC (p=.038) was found to have significantly greater effect than AC. Conclusion: The PNF stretching techniques used in this study are effective in improving hamstring flexibility among university students. In addition, CRAC technique was found to be the most effective one.
Keywords : esneklik, hamstring, proprioseptif nöromuskuler fasilitasyon, germe, uzun süreli oturma pozisyonu