Background: Gait disturbances are a major problem for patients after arthroplasty. After the surgery, walking
speed, the rhythm of locomotion, and the length of the steps are significantly reduced. One of the therapeutic
methods used in gait re-education is proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy using PNF techniques on the
gait of patients after hip and knee arthroplasty.
Case report: A 60-year-old woman with advanced osteoarthritis that received bilateral hip and right knee arthroplasties
was examined. Before and after the therapy, the following tests were performed: measurement of
the range of motion (ROM) of hip and knees joints in the sagittal plane using a goniometer, assessment of the
symmetry of the lower limbs loading using the two scales test, assessment of the risk of falls using the “Timed
Up and Go” test, assessment of balance and gait using the Tinetti test, and assessment of pain intensity using
the visual analogue scale (VAS). Rehabilitation was comprised of 15 PNF therapies, including scapular
and pelvic PNF patterns. The stabilization of the upper and lower trunk, lifting, shifting of the body’s weight
from one foot to another, gait cycle (the stance phase and the swing phase), walking forward, backward, and
sideways, and walking up/down the stairs were also used. After the therapy, the flexion ROM in both hip and
knees joints was improved. The lower limb symmetry index decreased from 1.167 to 1.121, and the sum of
the points obtained in the Tinetti test increased from 22 to 26. Pain in the joints also decreased from 6 on the
VAS scale to 4. However, the result obtained in the “Timed Up and Go” test after the therapy was increased by
0.5 s compared to before the therapy.
Conclusions: After hip and knee arthroplasties, physiotherapy using PNF techniques improved the gait
and functional status of the patient. Continuation of this research using a larger number of patients is
needed.