The Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Static Stretching Exercises

Joint proprioception can be defined as the body's ability to determine position and detection movement without vision perception. Proprioception is provided from the stimulation of specialized nerve endings and mechanoreceptors located in and around the joints, such as muscles, tendons, fascia, joint capsule, and ligaments. The muscle spindle and golgi tendon organ are the most important receptors involved in the proprioceptive sensation of the knee joint.

In the literature, there are studies have investigated the effect of static stretching exercises on the sense of position. Some of these studies showed an improvement on position sense, while one study showed no effect. There are a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching techniques on proprioceptive senses. However, the effects of static stretching and PNF stretching on kinesthesia have not been studied.

The aim of this study is to compare acute and chronic effect of PNF stretching and static stretching in individuals with shortness hamstring in proprioception and performance.

Hypothesis of research

H01: The acute effects of static stretching and PNF stretching exercises on the results of proprioceptive sensation are similar.

H02: The chronic effects of static stretching and PNF stretching exercises on the results of proprioceptive sensation are similar.

H03: The acute effects of static stretching and PNF stretching exercises on the results of physical performance are similar.

H04: The chronic effects of static stretching and PNF stretching exercises on the results of physical performance are similar.

The Universe and Sample of the Research:

A sample size calculation was performed using the G* Power software (version 3.1.9.2), taking into account the statistical tests to be used in the analyses, and the conventional effect size values proposed by Cohen. It was estimated that 27 subjects would be needed in each group (α=0.05, β=0.20, and Cohen d=0.8) in order to detect statistically significant difference in a Mann Whitney U test. Considering the samples that could not complete the study, this first sample size was increased by 10% and the final sample size was calculated as 30 in each group.

Methods:

The study will include volunteer sedentary male subjects aged between 20-29 years. The study will be carried out in the athlete's lab of the Eastern Mediterranean University.

Participants in the study who have signed a voluntary consent form will be informed about the study. Then, the evaluation starts with the socio-demographic data of the participants (age, gender, height, weight, dominant side). Evaluations will be performed as knee extension angle, proprioceptive sense, flexibility assessment, balance, explosive power tests and muscle strength assessment. Individuals will be divided into two groups by minimization randomization method. 30 seconds contract-relax-antagonist-contract method (CRAC) of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation stretching exercises for hamstring muscle will be performed to Group 1 and 30 seconds static stretching exercises for hamstring muscle will be performed to Group 2.

To assess the acute effect, exercise will be performed after the first assessment and then all assessments will be repeated. To investigate the chronic effect, all exercises will be performed in 8 weeks and 3 times a week. After 6 weeks follow-up period, all participants will be evaluated again.

Evaluations in the Research

Knee Extension Test:

The individual's hip will be stabilized at 90 degrees flexion with 1 hand supporting the subject's distal thigh and the other hand cupping the heel. Physiotherapist passively extended the knee until the individual feels mild tension in hamstring muscle. At this point, it will measured the angle using a goniometer. Full knee extension would be equivalent to an angle of 180°. The angle missing from the full knee extension will be recorded as 'degree'.

Proprioceptive Sensory Measurements:

Isokinetic dynamometer will be used to evaluate the knee joint proprioceptive sense of subjects. The subjects will placed in a 90° hip flexion sitting position. Subjects will be informed about the tests. Before the test, a trial will be performed. Between the three tests 30 seconds rest period will be given. The difference between the target angle and the measured angle will be registered as absolute error. Averages of three measurements will be analyzed.

For motion sense measurements, 10° knee flexion position was selected for kinesthesia measurements. The subjects will be instructed to press the dynamometer lock button as soon as they will perceive any movement in the knee joint. 45° knee flexion position will be used in the measurement of position sense. The knee will be started in the 90° flexion position and before the test, target knee position will be taught during 5 seconds. Afterwards, the knee will be placed to starting position. Subjects will be asked to push the warning button as soon as they feel they will reach the target angle.

Room temperature will be kept at 25°C during the tests. Air splints will be used to eliminate the tactile sense. While care will be taken to preserve the silence of the environment, subjects will be dressed in headphones at the same time to prevent the sound coming from the isokinetic dynamo-meter that will affect the measurements.

Flexibility Measurement:

It will be evaluated using the sit and reach test. Individuals will be asked to reach the as far as possible they can reach by extending their arms to the forward and stand still for 1-2 seconds at the last point without bending participants' knees. The distance will be recorded in 'cm' and the best value will be used in the analysis.

Balance Measurements:

Flamingo Balance Test:

Static balance will be measured by Flamingo Balance Test. The subjects stood on the beam which was 50 cm long, 5 cm height and 3 cm wide. While balancing on the dominant leg, the free leg was flexed at the knee and the foot of this leg held close to the buttocks. Then the instructor will be started the stopwatch and the subjects tried to stand in this position for one minute. The stopwatch will be stopped each time the subjects lost the balance during 60 second. The number of falls of the individual will be recorded. The test will be repeated 3 times and a rest interval of 60 seconds will be given between repetitions. The best result will be recorded.

Y-Balance Test:

Dynamic balance will be measured with Y-balance test. Individuals will be asked to place one foot on the starting point on the center and both hands on the waist. Individuals will be reach the farthest point possible in the anterior, posteriomedial and posteriolateral directions with the free limb. The farthest point of the free limb will be measured with the tape measure. There will be 3 trials in each direction. In addition, the lower extremity length measurement will be used for scoring. (Spina Iliaca Anterior Superior-Medial Malleoli). The mixed reach distance will be calculated based on best value [(max anterior + max posteriomedial + max posteriolateral) / (3 x Lower Limb Length)] x100.

Anaerobic Power Tests:

Vertical Jump Test:

Explosive force of lower extremities will be evaluated using the counter movement vertical jump test. The tape measure will be placed and fixed on the wall in the vertical direction. The individuals will be positioned on the side of the wall. In this position, the arm will be extended and the point at which the longest finger reaches will be recorded. The subject will be started with their hands on their hips, they will then instructed to sink (approximately 120 knee angle) as high as possible. The distance between the touched point and jumped points on the tape measure will be measured and recorded in 'cm'. The test will be repeated 3 times and a rest interval of 60 seconds will be given between repetitions. The best result will be recorded.

Horizontal Jump Test:

Explosive force of lower extremities will be evaluated using the counter movement horizontal jump test. The tape measure will be placed horizontally and fixed on the hard ground. The individuals will be positioned on the '0' point of the tape measure. In this position, the arm will be extended and the point at which the longest finger reaches will be recorded. The subject will be jump with their hands on their hips (approximately 120 knee angle) as forward as possible with the double leg. The distance between the '0' point and jumped points on the tape measure will be measured and recorded in 'cm'. The test will be repeated 3 times and a rest interval of 60 seconds will be given between repetitions. The best result will be recorded.

Muscle Strength:

The evaluation of quadriceps and hamstring muscle concentric strength will be evaluated with the isokinetic dynamometer. Before the measurements, the bike will be used for warming for 5 minutes without resistance. The test will be performed 5 times at 120 ̊/sec angular speeds. The peak torque values of the results will be recorded in 'N / m'.