Exercise Based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Older Individuals

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

26 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-03-23

Study Completion Date

2024-06-03

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial was to determine whether an intervention using resisted sit-to-stand and walking exercises with Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) techniques improved gait and sit-to-stand in older individuals with poor functional capacity compared to a control group that performed the same activities, but without manual resistance. The main questions it aimed to answer were:

Did an exercise program based on the PNF concept improve functional capacity and strength performance?

Was there a difference between an exercise program with or without PNF techniques on functional capacity and strength in older adults?

Researchers compared the effects of an exercise program based on the PNF concept to a similar exercise training without manual resistance on functional capacity and strength performance.

Participants participated in an intervention using resisted sit-to-stand and walking exercises with or without PNF and performed functional capacity and strength tests at the beginning and end of the intervention.

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Detailed Description

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The proposal consisted of investigating an exercise intervention based on the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation concept (PFNG), compared to a control group (CG), which performed the same exercises as PNFG under a therapist's supervision, but without resistance imposed by the therapist's hands as in PFNG, in older individuals.

Before data collection, individuals participated in a familiarization procedure for each test. Each specific test was conducted on the same equipment with identical participant/equipment positioning. Functional assessment and intervention were conducted at the participants' residences.

The CG intervention consisted of the same activities carried out in the PNFG during Stages 1 and 2, for the same amount of minutes, sessions, and weeks. However, the CG intervention did not include specific techniques and basic principles (i.e., approximation and optimal resistance) and procedures of the PNF concept. The activities were instructed and supervised by a trained professional through verbal commands. The professional was in a stand-by assistant position to prevent accidents. Each intervention lasted 30 minutes and took place twice a week, for 4 weeks, totaling 8 meetings. The interventions were supervised by researchers blinded to pre-intervention assessment results and randomly assigned for both PNF and control groups. The researchers responsible for the interventions were physical therapists with basic IPNFA® (International Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Association) instruction.

Conditions

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Functional Disability Dynapenia Sarcopenia in Elderly

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Group

The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation group (PNFG) intervention consisted of applying PNF concept exercises and techniques related to facilitating sitting and walking, carried out by a therapist with basic IPNFA® (International Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Association) instruction. The PNF intervention was divided into two stages: Stage 1: which consisted of facilitating stability and controlled mobility of the initial position and phases 1, 2, 3, of the sit-up. At the initial position, we applied PNF stabilizing reversals technique for 2 minutes, to stimulate stability in the upright sitting position. In phase 1, we applied PNF to stimulate controlled mobility of the anterior inclination of the erect trunk. In Phase 2, to improve the concentric and eccentric control of lower limb extensor muscles and, in Phase 3 to improve the stability in an upright position again. Stage 2: consists of facilitating activities related to gait.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Intervention Type OTHER

The following basic principles and procedures were emphasized when applying the techniques: manual contact, resistance, approximation, verbal commands, and therapist's body mechanics. During stages 1 and 2 of the intervention, the amount of PNF optimal resistance used was necessary to maintain a stable and safe position, with good body alignment, in a manner that produced coordinated movements to generate appropriate motor learning.

Physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group

The physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group (CG) Intervention consisted of the same activities carried out in the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group (PNFG) during Stages 1 and 2, during the same amount of minutes, sessions, and weeks; however, CG intervention did not include specific techniques and basic principles (i.e. approximation and optimal resistance) and procedures of the PNF concept. The activities were instructed and supervised by a trained professional through verbal command. The professional was at stand-by assistant position to prevent accidents.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group

Intervention Type OTHER

The physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group (CG) intervention consisted of the same activities carried out in the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) group during Stages 1 and 2, during the same amount of minutes, sessions, and weeks; however, CG intervention did not include specific techniques and basic principles (i.e. approximation and optimal resistance) and procedures of the PNF concept. The activities were instructed and supervised by a trained professional through verbal command. The professional was at stand-by assistant position to prevent accidents.

Interventions

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Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

The following basic principles and procedures were emphasized when applying the techniques: manual contact, resistance, approximation, verbal commands, and therapist's body mechanics. During stages 1 and 2 of the intervention, the amount of PNF optimal resistance used was necessary to maintain a stable and safe position, with good body alignment, in a manner that produced coordinated movements to generate appropriate motor learning.

Intervention Type OTHER

Physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group

The physical exercise without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation control group (CG) intervention consisted of the same activities carried out in the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) group during Stages 1 and 2, during the same amount of minutes, sessions, and weeks; however, CG intervention did not include specific techniques and basic principles (i.e. approximation and optimal resistance) and procedures of the PNF concept. The activities were instructed and supervised by a trained professional through verbal command. The professional was at stand-by assistant position to prevent accidents.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Short Physical Performance Battery score lower than 10 points.

Exclusion Criteria

* Neurodegenerative diseases;
* Illnesses contraindicating exercise (e.g., uncontrolled arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction);
* Unstable medical condition.

Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes