Proprietary Neuromuscular Facilitation or P.N.F. (from the initials of the words Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) is a method used to restore joint range of motion, improve functionality and increase endurance and strength in patients with tissue damage (eg muscles, tendons ), are in post-operative recovery or have damage to the central nervous system (eg stroke) (Hindle, Whitcomb, Briggs & Hong, 2012).
Proprioception (from the term proprioception) is the ability of the body to perceive the changes that occur in it, using the proprioceptive receptors. These receptors inform the brain about the tension and length of the muscles and the position of the joints and by extension the body. The main receptors are found within muscles (muscle spindle and free nerve endings), tendons (Golgi tendon organ) and joints (Pacini corpuscles and free nerve endings).
With this feature of the method, the response for movement is precise and synchronized (neuromuscular coordination). Even with our eyes closed, we can predict where our body and each member is individually and we know how to react to the environment around us (kinaesthesia).
The exercises with the method of P.N.F. they are intended to facilitate the promotion of neuromuscular responses by stimulation of proprioceptive receptors and are often used to increase range of motion, reduce pain, increase strength, and improve function. (Nuray, Ayçe & Zeynep, 2015).
Philosophy
The philosophy of P.N.F. it includes the developmental treatment planning process that is oriented towards the positive functional approach, the activation of reserves, the consideration of the individual as a whole, and the use of motor control and motor learning rules (Susan, Beckers & Buck, 2008). It is a method that is not applied to individual muscles but concerns movement patterns. It can be applied directly to an area of the body or indirectly.
The indirect approach does not directly mobilize the affected area but activates it through activation of the other healthy parts of the body using the reflex effect (Meningroni et al, 2009). Neurophysiologically, the phenomenon of reflection could be said to be the spread of a response that occurs when a strong stimulus increases in relation to its strength and frequency, from a strong point to a weak one (Pink, 1981; Luciana et al, 2012). .
Typically, it is the propagation of impulses through the nervous system as a response to a stimulus/stimulus of resistance. It can be evoked from the strong points of the body to the weak points and reaches any other part of the body. The most important goals of the reflex effect are to activate weak muscles, facilitate movements or transfer the body, increase coordination, increase functional activities and develop motor learning and motor control.
A little history…
The history of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) dates back to the mid-20th century, originating in the collaboration between physiotherapist Margaret Knott and Dr Herman Kabat, a neurologist. Developed in the 1940s, PNF emerged as a revolutionary approach to rehabilitation. It combined the principles of anatomy, neuroscience and motor control to enhance muscle coordination, flexibility and strength. Based on the concept of movement patterns, PNF aimed to retrain the nervous system and restore function. Over the years, PNF techniques have evolved and been incorporated into various health care practices, proving instrumental in optimizing rehabilitation outcomes and improving movement patterns for patients in diverse populations.
