Final answer:
PNF principles involve Contract-Relax, Hold-Relax, and Agonist-Contraction methods enhancing flexibility and control by exploiting physiological processes like stretch reflex and autogenic inhibition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a technique used in therapeutic exercise that applies principles including agonists, antagonists, and muscle relaxation. Three core principles of PNF involve:
- Contract-Relax: The patient contracts the target muscle (agonist) against resistance, then fully relaxes, potentially increasing the range of motion.
- Hold-Relax: The agonist muscle is passively stretched, contracted isometrically, and then relaxed to achieve a deeper stretch post-relaxation.
- Agonist-Contraction: The patient contracts the agonist muscle while the antagonistic muscle relaxes, enhancing the stretch of the antagonist muscle.
These principles work by exploiting natural physiological processes such as the stretch reflex and autogenic inhibition to increase flexibility and muscle control.