Analysis of shoulder rotation accompanying a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation approach

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the medial rotation that accompanies flexion of the shoulder took place during the performance of the flexion-abduction-lateral-rotation proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation pattern (D2F) with the forearm moving in supination and the elbow remaining in extension. The dominant shoulders of 10 volunteer subjects (8 men and 2 women) between 18 and 30 years of age and with no known pathological conditions of the dominant upper extremity were examined. The amount of shoulder flexion was determined by using a gravity-activated angle finder placed on the superior surface of the humerus at the beginning and ending phases of motion. The amount of shoulder rotation was determined by using a universal goniometer, a square ruler, and a gravity-activated angle finder with its base resting on the surface of an adjustable wooden bracket aligned over the humeral epicondyles. The results for all subjects showed that, as the D2F pattern was performed, lateral rotation occurred during the initial phase of motion that was followed by a palpable change to medial rotation. The analysis of variance and Scheffé tests demonstrated significant differences (p less than .01) between the amount of medial rotation at the beginning of the pattern and the point at which the rotational direction changed and between this point and the end of the pattern. Physical therapists should be aware that the flexion-abduction-lateral-rotation pattern should end with the shoulder in medial rotation when they guide and apply resistance to patients performing this PNF pattern.