PNF in hemiplegic gait

[neurospast]

Quote:
These methods are therefore often described as belonging to the reflex-hierarchical model of motor control. This model arose from the foundations neurophysiology the beginning of the 20th century. While some of this was good science for the time, the model is a highly impoverished model of neuroscience; full over oversimplifications and conjecture about the relative importance of these phenomena.

There are some really big problems with these techniques which has a lot to do with the outdate nature of the reflex hierarchical model of motor control.

Limited understanding of how the nervous system, movement and motor learning works.
The problem with the using techniques from this model is that our understanding of motor control and motor learning has become so much more developed. Our understanding of biomechanics, motor learning theory and research, motor control, psychology of motivation, neuroscience particularly neuroplasticity has taken us a long way from these very simplistic notions of how the nervous system work and how we learn and relearn movement. For example the various uses of PNF provide a very poor examples of motor learning.
end quote.

I have taken (hopefully not out of context) a quote from gcoe. What surprises me, maybe I misunderstand gcoe, that simply because the theory behind the system is outdated, PNF seems to be outdated. How come? Wouldn't it be better to see if a system works and if it works to proclaim (in case PNF does work) that the theory behind it is outdated but that PNF does work. I am not sure but I feel this sort of assault could be on every principle within physiotherapy treatment. e.g. Bobath, spinal manipulation and so on. In stead of looking if there is some practical use for these treatment systems should we be blinded by the theory behind it which seems to be outdated? I am wondering...
I assume you, gcoe have done PNF courses and found them completely a waste of time and have come therefor to your statement. So it is not entirely based on theory (which will most likely be outdated next year).