CONTEXT: Accurate joint position sense (JPS) is necessary for effective motor learning and high performance in activities that require fine motor control. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can be a promising intervention. OBJECTIVE: To examine existing peer-reviewed original studies that have investigated the effect of PNF techniques on the JPS in terms of the methodological quality, PNF techniques, outcomes, and participant characteristics. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Medline, CINAHL, SocINDEX, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to January 2018. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) assessment of the JPS; (2) peer-reviewed original studies with a randomized controlled trial or quasi-randomized controlled trial design; (3) participants with musculoskeletal disorders or healthy individuals (ie, neither animal studies nor those involving neurological problems); and (4) no cointervention with PNF, except for warm-up procedures. The methodological quality was assessed using PEDro scale and 5 additional criteria. Effect size (eta2) was calculated where a positive value indicated an increased JPS after PNF as compared with other approaches including the wait-and-see method. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Nine studies were examined for their methodological quality, and only one study scored > 6 on the PEDro scale. Positive and large effect size (eta2 > 0.14) was detected in 2 studies where JPS of the knee with contract-relax and replication techniques was assessed in healthy individuals. However, the methodological quality of these studies was poor (PEDro scores of 3 and <= 5 in the total quality score out of 16, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The current study did not find multiple studies with high methodological quality and similar PNF techniques, outcomes, and characteristics of participants. More high-quality studies are required to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the effect of PNF on the JPS.
Copyright Human Kinetics. Reprinted with permission from Human Kinetics (Champaign, IL).

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