Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is used by physical therapists, massage therapists, and athletic trainers to treat muscle injury and increase flexibility. PNF is similar to muscle energy technique or MET in that it uses isometrics contractions and passive stretching. PNF is different though because it can include active movement and stretching by the client also. It also requires more physical resistance by the client activating the isometric muscle contractions. MET requires about 20 percent strength and PNF requires about 60 percent.

Physiologist, Charles Sherrington, came up with the theory behind PNF in the early 1900s, but it wasn't actively put into use until the 1940s. Herman Kabat, a neurophysiologist, started using the therapy in 1946 to rehabilitate polio patients. He did extensive work with the therapy and eventually the other therapists that he worked with started teaching it to others. It started being used by physical therapists in the 1960s. In the 1970s, athletic trainers started using the therapy. It is also commonly used in sports massage.

There are five techniques used in PNF:

Rhythmic initiation is used when a client's injury makes him unable to start a range of motion. The patterns goes from passive to active resistance and is followed by active movement.

Rhythmic stabilization is when the therapist asks the client to hold a position. Then the therapist applies resistance to the client and asks the client to hold against the resistance without changing position.

Hold contract is when the therapist asks the client to resist against a force applied by the therapist. After 20 seconds of resisting the therapist stretches the muscle group that was being used to resist.

Contract-relax with antagonist contract (CRAC) is when the client is asked to contract the muscle that is in pain and then contract the opposing muscle.

Hold-relax-swing/hold-relax bounce starts out as a passive stretch and is followed by isometric contractions.

This therapy is excellent for addressing sports injuries and loosening hypertonic muscles.