The effects of PNF & static stretching on knee ROM of amputee athletes. Brazilian Journal of Biomotricity. v. 5, n. 4, p. 255-262, 2011. Flexibility is one of the most important factors in athletic preformance injuries prevantion especially in rehabilatation of athletic disabled. In order to maintain and develop ROM in an amputated limb, the superior joint of the stump should be under effective stretching exercises. Therefore the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of two methods of static stretching and PNF (HR) on increasing the knee ROM of B.K. amputee athletes. The subjects were consisted of 19 B.K. male amputated athletes, with mean age of 35± 5years; and mean stump length of 19± 7 cm., which they were randomly divided into two groups of static stretching exercises (N=9); and PNF exercises (N=10). ROMs were measured by use of a Lighton Flexometer.The exercise protocol of both groups consisted of 12 sessions of 20 minutes. Results were concluded in both training programs of static stretching method and PNF (HR), the ROM of the knee joint increased significantly (P≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference between two methods of stretching exercises. The present study showed the effects of flexibility exercises on improvement of ROM of knee joint of B.K amputees. Therefor it emphasizes the requirements of performing static stretching exercises and PNF exercises by the coaches in order to improve physical condition of amputees and to rehabilitate them.

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