Effect of a Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Program on Hip Flexibility inYouth Taekwondo Athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59614/acief62026299Keywords:
Joint range of motion, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, flexibility, Poomsae, TaekwondoAbstract
Flexibility is a determining physical capacity in taekwondo, particularly in the Poomsae discipline, where articular range of motion influences the technical execution of kicks. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) program on flexibility in youth taekwondo athletes. A quantitative, quasiexperimental pretest-posttest study with a control group was conducted. Thirty athletes aged 8 to 12 participated, allocated by convenience into an intervention group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The intervention consisted of an eight-week PNF program with two weekly sessions. Hip flexibility was assessed via EasyAngle digital goniometry in flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and straight leg raise. Data were analyzed using R Core Team software (2026) through descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, linear mixed models, and Cohen's d effect size, considering a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The results showed that both groups were comparable at baseline. A statistically significant difference was observed in the left straight leg raise, with a mean change difference of 11.47° favoring the intervention group (p = 0.013; d = 0.976). Favorable trends, although without reaching statistical significance, were observed in right straight leg raise (difference = 9.67°; p = 0.053; d = 0.739), left hip flexion (difference = 6.07°; p = 0.257; d = 0.423), and left internal rotation (difference = 3.27°; p = 0.227; d = 0.451). The remaining variables showed no statistically significant differences between groups. Overall, the results indicate that the PNF program produced a statistically significant effect specifically on the left straight leg raise, while potentially favorable, non-significant effects were observed in the right straight leg raise, left hip flexion, and left internal rotation. It is concluded that PNF demonstrated favorable effects on specific components of the range of motion in youth Poomsae athletes, with potential benefits for kicking amplitude.
References
Alomá, S., y García, P. (2003). Efectividad del método de facilitación neuromuscular propioceptiva en el desarrollo de la flexibilidad en el judo escolar. Revista Digital EFDeportes, 9(59). http://www.efdeportes.com/efd59/judo.htm
Behm, D. G., Alizadeh, S., Daneshjoo, A., Hadjizadeh Anvar, S., Graham, A., Zahiri, A., ... Konrad, A. (2023). Acute effects of various stretching techniques on range of motion: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Medicine - Open, 9, Article 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00652-x
Birinci, T., Ozdincler, A. R., Altun, S., y Kural, C. (2019). A structured exercise programme combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching or static stretching in posttraumatic stiffness of the elbow: A randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 33(2), 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215518802886
Bompa, T. O., y Buzzichelli, C. (2019). Periodization: Theory and methodology of training (6.ª ed.). Human Kinetics. (ISBN: 978-1-4925-4480-7) Duffy, E., Wells, M., Miller, A., Tondra, M., y Doty, A. (2024). Reliability of the EasyAngle® for assessing hip range of motion in healthy children. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 19(1), 1484–1493. https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.90865
Feland, J. B., Myrer, J. W., y Schulthies, S. S. (2001). The effect of duration of stretching of the hamstrings on the retention of flexibility. Physical Therapy in Sport, 2(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.1054/ptsp.2000.0039
Haff, G. G., y Triplett, N. T. (Eds.). (2016). Essentials of strength training and conditioning (4.ª ed.). Human Kinetics. (ISBN: 978-1-4925-0162-6)
Hernández-Sampieri, R., Fernández-Collado, C., y Baptista-Lucio, P. (2014). Metodología de la investigación (6.ª ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Ingram, L. A., Tomkinson, G. R., d’Unienville, N. M. A., Gower, B., Gleadhill, S., Boyle, T., y Bennett, H. (2025). Optimising the dose of static stretching to improve flexibility: A systematic review, meta-analysis and multivariate meta-regression. Sports Medicine, 55(3), 597–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02143-9
Lee, Y., y Lim, S. (2025). Positive youth development through taekwondo: A journey to the black belt. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1630461. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1630461
Milyaeva, K. R., y Akindinova, M. M. (2024). The influence of flexibility on the formation of basic taekwondo techniques in children aged 10–12 years. Physical Education and University Sport, 3(4), 431–437. https://doi.org/10.18500/2782-4594-2024-3-4-431- 437
Nelson, A. G., y Cornelius, W. L. (1991). The effect of different physiological dynamic techniques on range of motion. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 31(3), 349–356.
Palomo, A. C., Soriano, B. S. C., Palazón, F. J. R., y Saiz de Baranda, M. P. (2018). Análisis del perfil de flexibilidad en jóvenes taekwondistas. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 13(2S), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v13i2s.5503
Sharman, M. J., Cresswell, A. G., y Riek, S. (2006). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching: Mechanisms and clinical implications. Sports Medicine, 36(11), 929–939. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636110-00002
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., Bellon, C. R., y Stone, M. H. (2018). The importance of muscular strength: Training considerations. Sports Medicine, 48(4), 765–785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0862-z
Vicente-Mampel, J., Gargallo, P., Esteban-Puente, J., y Segura-Ortí, E. (2021). Efecto del estiramiento por facilitación neuromuscular propioceptiva frente al estiramiento estático sobre la flexibilidad de los isquiosurales en deportistas jóvenes: ensayo clínico aleatorizado. Apunts Educación Física y Deportes, 144, 25–34. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2021/2).144.03
World Taekwondo. (2024). World Taekwondo competition rules and interpretation. https://www.worldtaekwondo.org
Yu, S., Lin, L., Liang, H., Lin, M., Deng, W., Zhan, X., Fu, X., y Liu, C. (2022). Gender difference in effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching on flexibility and stiffness of hamstring muscle. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 918176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.918176dentro
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Anabell Salmerón-Cardona, David Ramírez-Linares, Luz del Carmen Sierra-Tapia, Julio Méndez-Ávila, Emiliano Cervantes-Gónzalez, Arely Morales-Hernández
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
International Academic Journal of Physical Education, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source is credited.
