SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025
The effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy on functional recovery in patients with knee joint injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis study employed a meta-analytic approach to systematically evaluate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) therapy on functional recovery in patients with knee joint injuries.
methodsRandomized controlled trials investigating the effects of PNF on functional recovery in patients with knee joint injuries were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Meta-analysis was performed using RStudio, Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 17 software. Pooled effect sizes were calculated as weighted mean differences (WMDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and 95% prediction intervals (PIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² statistic. A fixed-effects model was applied when I² ≤ 50%, whereas a random-effects model was used when substantial heterogeneity was present (I² > 50%).
resultsA total of 13 studies involving 762 participants were included. PNF demonstrated significant benefits in patients with knee injuries, including improvements in knee flexion range of motion (WMD = 11.09, 95%CI: 4.60-17.57, 95%PI: -10.73-32.90), extension range of motion (WMD = 5.42, 95% CI: 1.29-9.56, 95%PI: -40.77-51.61), pain reduction (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.68 - -0.19, 95%PI: -4.01-2.14)), Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale scores (WMD = 13.96, 95% CI: 6.44-21.49, 95%PI: -17.63-45.55), Berg Balance Scale scores (WMD = 2.83, 95% CI: 0.49-5.17, 95%PI: -21.54-27.20), and Activities of Daily Living scores (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.12-0.91, 95%PI: -0.79-1.81). Subgroup analyses suggested that combined PNF interventions of 8-12 weeks, performed six times per week for 10-30 min per session, were associated with the greatest improvements in knee joint range of motion during traumatic or postoperative recovery. Similarly, the most pronounced reductions in pain were observed with combined PNF programs of 8-12 weeks, delivered 5-7 times per week for 10-30 min per session, were more effective in alleviating pain in this population.
conclusionsPNF can significantly improve the active flexion range, extension range, pain, knee joint function, balance ability, and activities of daily living in patients with knee disorders. More high-quality studies with larger samples are still needed for further research.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.