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Acute Effects of Static and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching on the Ankle's Range of Motion and Postural Stability

A dispatch from PubMed — filed

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of two stretching techniques-static stretching (SST) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF)-on functional outcomes related to postural balance (stabilographic parameters) and ankle range of motion (ROM; active and passive measures)....

Clinical Takeaway

No actionable change for audiology practice — this is a kinesiology/sports science study on stretching techniques; any indirect relevance to vestibular rehabilitation would require further disease-specific trials.

Why It Matters

Postural stability is a key outcome in vestibular rehabilitation, and evidence on stretching protocols could peripherally inform physiotherapy components of balance disorder management.

Key Points
  1. 01Compared static stretching vs. proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on ankle range of motion.
  2. 02Measured acute (immediate) effects on postural stability — not long-term rehabilitation outcomes.
  3. 03Published in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (2026); PMID 42200885.
  4. 04Primary relevance is to sports science and physiotherapy, not audiology directly.
  5. 05Study design appears controlled and comparative but is limited to acute effects.
Claims & Evidence

PNF stretching produces different acute effects on ankle range of motion and postural stability compared to static stretching.

studyunclear
Research metadata
PMID
42200885
DOI
10.3390/jfmk11020179.
Journal
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
Publication type
research_article
Evidence level
2b
Population
Presumably healthy adults or athletes undergoing stretching interventions (population details not specified in abstract)
Intervention
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching
Comparator
Static stretching

Primary outcomes

Ankle range of motion; Postural stability

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