PNF Effects on Volleyball Performance

Volleyball is a team sport that demands high levels of skill and strategy; it has gained significant popularity in Türkiye, particularly among adolescents. The spike-a key technical element of the game-is an explosive maneuver used to score points. Performance in the spike is determined by factors such as explosive power, vertical jump capacity, and technical-kinematic variables, with core stability and scapular stabilization playing particularly critical roles. Insufficient stability not only reduces hitting velocity but also increases the risk of injury to the shoulder and spinal complex due to repetitive overhead movements. In this context, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)-a comprehensive therapeutic approach aimed at enhancing muscular strength and neuromuscular coordination-is considered a potential intervention method. A review of the existing literature reveals a lack of research examining the simultaneous effects of PNF exercises (targeting the upper extremities and the core) on both upper-extremity and core stability in adolescent volleyball players, as well as how these effects translate to spike hitting velocity. By addressing critical components of volleyball performance and associated injury risks, this article aims to investigate the impact of PNF exercises on scapular and core stability, as well as spike hitting velocity, in adolescent athletes.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Being a volleyball athlete aged 14-18, 2. Having not undergone any surgery within the last 6 months, 3. Having a training frequency of ≥ 2-3 days/week. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Experiencing pain in the lower back, neck, or upper extremities, 2. Having a diagnosis of structural scoliosis, 3. Having a diagnosis of an orthopedic or neurological condition, 4. Having a BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m²