Effect of Eight-Week Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Pattern-Based Exercises on Performance Scores and Postural Stability in Elite Men Basketball Players

Abstract

Background and objective. Balance is essential to an athlete's ability and may be affected by some interventions like exercise. The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) exercises to facilitate and control neuro-muscular systems. This study investigated the Effect of eight-week Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) pattern-based exercises on function and balance in elite basketball players. Materials and methods. This study was a randomized field trial. For this purpose, a total of 34 elite athletes were divided into two experimental (N = 17) and control groups (N = 17) by a simple blocked randomization method. The PNF pattern-based exercises were given to the experimental group for eight weeks and three weekly sessions. The athletes' function, balance, and stability range before and after eight weeks were collected using a 15-attempt basketball and Biodex device test. ANCOVA was performed to analyze data at a significant level of α ≥ 0.05. Results. After 8 weeks of (PNF) pattern-based exercises, there was a significant difference between two groups on the function (p = 0.001) and postural stability indicators (total stability of (p = 0.001)), external-internal stability (p = 0.001), posterior-anterior (p = 0.001) in post-test of two groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions. PNF pattern-based exercises improve the function and balance of elite basketball players. It is recommended that these exercises be used in basketball players' programs.