Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation induces muscle irradiation to the lower limbs - A cross-sectional study with healthy individuals.

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) in promoting muscle irradiation to the lower limbs and to relate these findings with muscle activation during the sit-to-stand task. METHODS Twenty-four healthy women were recruited via convenience sampling and submitted to four PNF patterns: upper limb pattern with flexion-abduction-external rotation (UL), lower limb pattern with flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (lower limb pattern 1 [LL1]), lower limb pattern with flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (lower limb pattern 2 [LL2]), and lifting to the right. Electromyography was recorded from the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and soleus during the PNF patterns and during the sit-to-stand task. RESULTS The most recruited muscles during the sit-to-stand task were the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and soleus (p < 0.05). Lifting to the right induced the greatest activation of the gluteus maximus (p < 0.001). Lifting to the right and LL2 were better than UL at recruiting the gluteus medius (p < 0.05). Lifting to the right and LL1 were better than UL at recruiting the vastus medialis and lateralis (p < 0.05; p < 0.05). and Lower limb pattern 1 and 2 were better than UL at recruiting the soleus muscle (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNF can be used to induce muscle irradiation to maintain or improve muscle activity to the muscles recruited during the sit-to-stand task. The best PNF pattern for inducing muscle irradiation to muscles recruited during the sit-to-stand task are lifting to the right, LL2, and LL1.