The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of an upper limb training program based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on thoracic mobility. The study was carried out with 24 sedentary female volunteers, aged 22.9±2.9 years. Participants were divided into a control group (CG), who did not perform any exercise, and a trained group (TG), submitted to training. The physical training protocol consisted of a PNF exercise program, three times a week for four weeks. The two groups were assessed as to thoracic mobility by means of cirtometry before and after the training period. Data were statistically analysed and significance level set at α=5%. In CG, initial axillary and xiphoid cirtometry values showed no significant differences when compared to data obtained on the final evaluation (p>0.05). TG measures, in turn, were significantly higher after the training program (p<0.05). The PNF protocol here proposed seems hence to be an efficient exercise program to promote increase in cirtometry values within a short period of time, suggesting that the it may be used as a physical therapy resource for the development of thoracic mobility.
Breathing exercises; Exercise movement techniques; Proprioception; Upper extremity
