Description

Stroke is one of the major causes of disability, cognitive decline, and mortality worldwide. This condition is recognized as the second leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death. Scapular dyskinesia (SD) refers to the abnormal movement and function of scapula .Changes in scapular kinematics can result from altered scapular recruitment patterns , muscles performance issues and flexibility deficits in the surrounding soft tissues which may restrict normal scapular movements during daily activities.

Physical therapy is crucial for rehabilitating scapular disorders. The goal of therapeutic intervention is to restore the normal position, movement, and strength of the scapula. Specific exercises are designed to target the scapular stabilizing muscles. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a neurological technique used in therapeutic exercise that integrates functionally based diagonal movement patterns with neuromuscular facilitation techniques. This approach aims to elicit motor responses and enhance neuromuscular control and performance. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the effects of scapular and upper limb proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques on shoulder pain, upper limb function & gait in stroke with scapular dyskinesia.