Evidence mapPaperPMID 40148762Full record

Trial reportBMC geriatrics2025

The effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques compared to general aerobic exercise on balance, fear of falling, and quality of life in older adults living in nursing homes: a randomized controlled trial.

Mehrnaz Kajbafvala, Mina Ansari Eshlaghi, Shabnam ShahAli, Fateme Pourkazem, Anahita Hejazi

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mehrnaz KajbafvalaIranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mehrnaz.kajbafvala@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5126-9929
Mina Ansari EshlaghiIranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shabnam ShahAliIranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fateme PourkazemIranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Anahita HejaziDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith aging, changes occur in various body systems, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromusculoskeletal, and vestibular, leading to a decreased quality of life (QOL) and an increased fear of falling (FOF). Exercise and physical activity reduce the progression of aging complications. Therefore, we examined the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques compared to aerobic exercise on balance, fear of falling, and quality of life in older adults living in nursing homes.

methodsFifty-two older adults aged over 60 (31 males, 21 females) living in nursing homes were included. After initial evaluation, individuals were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (PNF techniques and aerobic exercise). Both treatment groups received 12 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. Balance, fear of falling, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after a 4-week intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired samples t-test were utilized to between and within-group changes of variables.

resultsThe results showed no significant differences in balance, fear of falling, and quality of life between groups after the intervention (P > 0.05). In the within-group comparison, only the PNF techniques group showed significant improvement in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) after the intervention (P < 0.05).

conclusionThe findings suggest that PNF techniques compared with aerobic exercise could not contribute to improved balance, fear of falling, and quality of life. Therefore, more clinical trial studies with a control group are needed to determine the exact effects of these techniques. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER (TRN) AND DATE OF REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the ( https://www.irct.ir ), (IRCT20210505051181N4) on 9/2/2023.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsExerciseExercise TherapyFearNursing HomesPostural BalanceQuality of LifeAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHomes for the AgedHumansMaleMiddle AgedProprioceptionAerobic exerciseAgingBalanceFear of fallingProprioceptive neuromuscular facilitationQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID40148762
PMCPMC11948863

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.