Selective Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation on Pelvic Mal-Alignment in Acute Post-Stroke Hemiparesis:A Case Report

Context: Stroke is one of the common upper motor neurological disorders with the overall worldwide prevalence of 3% . Majority of post-stroke individuals develop abnormal pelvic muscles function and pelvic tilt which can affect the trunk and lower limb functions. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation less commonly used to treat the acute stroke population. Thus, we conducted this case study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of selective PNF on the pelvic pattern in two subjects with acute post-stroke hemiparesis. Both cases were treated with routine and selective PNF techniques such as rhythmic initiation, the dynamic and stabilizing reversal in anterior elevation and posterior depression pattern for 30 minutes, daily for 4 consecutive weeks. Trunk impairment scale and PALM device were used to assess the trunk balance and pelvic tilt respectively before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Both cases were improved with a clinically meaningful difference. Therefore we also precede this treatment protocol in our randomized clinical trial further.