The effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques versus conventional therapy in patients with proximal humerus fracture: randomized controlled trial

To date, no study has investigated the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques for patients with proximal humerus fractures (PHF). To compare the effect of PNF, conventional physicaltherapy (CPT) on shoulder passive and active range of motion (ROM), function, muscle strength, pain, kinesiophobia, quality of life (QoL), and patient satisfaction in patients with PHF. A total of 40 patients with PHF were randomly allocated into two groups of CPT and PNF. Both groups received treatment programs three times a week for 6 weeks. The primary measures were shoulder ROM, function, and muscle strength. The secondary measures were pain, kinesiophobia, QoL, and patient satisfaction. Forty patients analyzed at the end of the study. There were no statistically significant group-by-time interactions for function, pain, shoulder ROM (active and passive), or muscle strength (p > .05). However, there were statistically significant group-by-time interactions in role limitations due to physical health subscale of the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) in CPT (p = .046, η2p = 0.078). In addition, a significant difference was found in patient satisfaction at 3 weeks in CPT (p = .021) but no difference at 6 weeks between groups (p > .05). The PNF techniques demonstrated similar outcomes to the CPT in reducing pain, improving function and shoulder ROM, and enhancing quality of life in patients with PHF in short time. According to our findings, PNF techniques are as effective as CPT and can be proposed as a potential adjunctive treatment for patients with PHF. NCT05960435.