Introduction: Stretching is the most common method used to improve flexibility. The most broadly used stretching techniques are static stretching and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques include active muscle contractions of agonistic and/or antagonistic muscles in order to decrease neural activity in agonistic muscles, causing their relaxation, which allows more stretching of the agonistic muscles. Theoretically, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques may have an advantage over static stretching, because they activate the sensory receptors within muscles. It is necessary to compare the effects of this stretching technique to other stretching techniques aside from static stretching (muscle energy techniques, ballistic stretching, cyclic stretching), as it remains unclear which stretching technique is the most effective to enhance the muscle length. Purpose: To compare acute effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques with acute effects of other stretching techniques on range of motion in healthy young adults. Methods: A literature review was conducted in databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL and PEDro. Keywords were written in English in different combinations. Results: Eight trials were included. Four of the included trials compared proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques with passive static stretching, one with muscle energy technique, one with passive static stretching and kinesiotaping, one with passive and active static stretching and one with active static stretching and modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching technique (kinesiostretching). In two of the included trials the results immediately after intervention were in favour of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques. In six trials there were no significant differences between stretching techniques in enhancing range of motion. Discussion and conclusion: The advantages of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching techniques over other stretching techniques in enhancing range of motion were not proved in our review. Significant gains in range of motion can be expected already after one stretching intervention regardless of the stretching technique used. High quality trials comparing the effectiveness of different stretching techniques are needed as well as focusing on long-term effects of stretching.
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