Efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on spasticity in patients with stroke: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

This review was conducted to investigate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on spasticity post-stroke.

Materials and methods

PubMed, SCOPUS, PEDro, CINAHL, MEDLINE, REHABDATA, and Web of Science databases were searched until May 2020. The methodological quality was evaluated using the physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale. Many inclusion and exclusion criteria of the studies were determined.

Results

Six studies were included in this systematic review. Three were pilot studies, clinical controlled trials (n = 2), and randomized controlled trials (n = 1). The scores on the PEDro scale ranged from two to five, with a median score of three. The findings of this study showed heterogeneous evidence on the benefits of the PNF intervention on spasticity post-stroke.

Conclusion

The evidence for the effect of the PNF on spasticity in patients with stroke was limited. Further strong clinical trials with long-term follow-up are needed.

Keywords:

• Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
• spasticity
• stroke
• rehabilitation
• neuromuscular system

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anas R. Alashram

Anas R. Alashram has a PhD in Physiotherapy. His research interests are neurorehabilitation post stroke, traumatic brain, and spinal cord injury.

Alia A. Alghwiri

Alia A. Alghwiri has a PhD in Physiotherapy. Her research interests are physiotherapy interventions in patients with neurological disorders.

Elvira Padua

Elvira Padua has a PhD in Open Rome University. His research interest is musculoskeletal system.

Giuseppe Annino

Giuseppe Annino has a PhD in University of Rome Tor Vergata. His research interest is musculoskeletal system.