NCT06690944

Exercise Based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Older Individuals

Physical Functioning Adaptations Following a Resisted Functional Exercise Program Based on the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Concept in Older Individuals: a Randomized Clinical Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 26 (actual)
• Sponsor: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

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

• Functional Disability
• Dynapenia
• Sarcopenia in Elderly

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	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.
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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-03-23
• Primary completion: 2024-06-03
• Completion: 2024-06-03
• First posted: 2024-11-15
• Last updated: 2024-11-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil