Routine Physical Therapy with and without Neural Mobilization in Chronic Musculoskeletal Neck Disorders with Nerve-Related Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

No previous study has evaluated the effectiveness of routine physical therapy with and without neural mobilization for patients with chronic musculoskeletal neck disorders and cervical radiculopathy. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of routine physical therapy with and without neural mobilization on pain and mobility in patients with chronic musculoskeletal neck disorders and cervical radiculopathy. A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials involving the use of neural mobilization techniques for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal neck disorders and cervical radiculopathy was conducted. Methodological quality was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and PEDro scale. Data were pooled and a meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model with Review Manager 5 software. Seven articles were included in our review. Significant differences were found in mobility but not in pain in favor of using routine physical therapy with neural mobilization for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal neck disorders and cervical radiculopathy. Our results show that routine physical therapy accompanied by neural mobilization is superior for improving mobility in comparison with routine physical therapy alone in patients with musculoskeletal neck disorders and cervical radiculopathy.

Efficacy of neural mobilization and Maitland accessory mobilization in patients with tennis elbow- randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Maitland accessory mobilization and neural mobilization in patients with tennis elbow. METHOD: Twenty-five patients meeting the selection criteria were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: Group C (conventional treatment), Group B (neural mobilization), and Group A (Maitland mobilization). Quality of life was assessed using the Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), while pain, range of motion, and grip strength were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a universal goniometer, and a handheld dynamometer. The interventions were administered three times per week for four weeks to the respective groups. RESULTS: Non-parametric tests were employed to analyze the results due to the non-normal distribution of the data (p < 0.05). Both the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were utilized to assess differences within and between groups. The results of the between-group analysis demonstrated significant differences in pain (p = 0.018) and quality of life (p = 0.045) among the three groups. CONCLUSION: After a 4-week intervention, all three groups exhibited notable improvements in discomfort levels, grip strength, and quality of life. Notably, Group B demonstrated the most substantial increase in range of motion (ROM) compared to Groups A and C. Consequently, incorporating neural mobilization into the treatment plan is recommended for patients experiencing Tennis Elbow.

Peripheral and central changes induced by neural mobilization in animal models of neuropathic pain: a systematic review.

Introduction: Neural mobilization (NM) is a physiotherapy technique involving the passive mobilization of limb nerve structures with the aim to attempt to restore normal movement and structural properties. In recent years, human studies have shown pain relief in various neuropathic diseases and other pathologies as a result of this technique. Improvement in the range of motion (ROM), muscle strength and endurance, limb function, and postural control were considered beneficial effects of NM. To determine which systems generate these effects, it is necessary to conduct studies using animal models. The objective of this study was to gather information on the physiological effects of NM on the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS) in animal models. Methods: The search was performed in Medline, Pubmed and Web of Science and included 8 studies according to the inclusion criteria. Results: The physiological effects found in the nervous system included the analgesic, particularly the endogenous opioid pathway, the inflammatory, by modulation of cytokines, and the immune system. Conclusion: On the basis of these results, we can conclude that NM physiologically modifies the peripheral and central nervous systems in animal models.

Electromyography function, disability degree, and pain in leprosy patients undergoing neural mobilization treatment / Função eletromiográfica, grau de incapacidade e de dor em portadores de hanseníase submetidos à mobilização neural

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the neural mobilization technique on electromyography function, disability degree, and pain in patients with leprosy. METHODS: A sample of 56 individuals with leprosy was randomized into an experimental group, composed of 29 individuals undergoing treatment with neural mobilization, and a control group of 27 individuals who underwent conventional treatment. In both groups, the lesions in the lower limbs were treated. In the treatment with neural mobilization, the procedure used was mobilization of the lumbosacral roots and sciatic nerve biased to the peroneal nerve that innervates the anterior tibial muscle, which was evaluated in the electromyography. RESULTS: Analysis of the electromyography function showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the experimental group in both the right (Δ percent=22.1, p=0.013) and the left anterior tibial muscles (Δ percent=27.7, p=0.009), compared with the control group pre- and post-test. Analysis of the strength both in the movement of horizontal extension (Δ percentright=11.7, p=0.003/Δ percentleft=27.4, p=0.002) and in the movement of back flexion (Δ percentright=31.1; p=0.000/Δ percentleft=34.7, p=0.000) showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in both the right and the left segments when comparing the experimental group pre- and post-test. The experimental group showed a significant reduction (p=0.000) in pain perception and disability degree when the pre- and post-test were compared and when compared with the control group in the post-test. CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy patients undergoing the technique of neural mobilization had an improvement in electromyography function and muscle strength, reducing disability degree and pain.

INTRODUÇÃO: Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito da técnica de mobilização neural sobre a função eletromiográfica, grau de incapacidade e dor em portadores de hanseníase. MÉTODOS: A amostra de 56 indivíduos portadores de hanseníase foi randomizada em: grupo experimental composto por 29 indivíduos submetidos ao tratamento com mobilização neural e grupo controle composto por 27 indivíduos submetidos ao tratamento convencional. Em ambos os grupos, foram tratadas as lesões nos membros inferiores. No tratamento com mobilização neural, o procedimento utilizado foi a mobilização das raízes lombossacrais e do nervo isquiático com viés para o nervo fibular, que inerva o músculo tibial anterior, o qual foi avaliado na eletromiografia. RESULTADOS: Ao analisar a função eletromiográfica, observou-se aumento significativo (p<0,05) no grupo experimental em ambos os músculos tibiais anteriores, direito (∆ por cento=22,1; p=0,01) e esquerdo (∆ por cento=27,7; p=0,009), comparado ao grupo controle no pré e pós teste. Ao analisar a força no movimento de extensão horizontal (∆ por centodir=11,7; p=0,003/∆ por cento esq=27,4; p=0,002) e no movimento de dorso flexão (∆ por cento dir=31,1; p=0,000/∆ por cento esq=34,7; p=0,000), observou-se aumento significativo (p<0,05) em ambos os segmentos direito e esquerdo ao comparar o grupo experimental no pré e pós teste. O grupo experimental apresentou redução significativa (p=0,000) na percepção de dor e no grau de incapacidade ao comparar o pré e pós teste e na comparação com o grupo controle no pós teste. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes submetidos à técnica de mobilização neural obtiveram melhora na função eletromiográfica e nos níveis de força muscular reduzindo o grau de incapacidade e dor.

Efeito da mobilização neural na melhora da dor e incapacidade funcional da hérnia de disco lombar subaguda / Effect of neural mobilization on pain relief and improvement of functional incapacity of subacute lumbar disc herniation

A Mobilização Neural é um recurso terapêutico para as diversas disfunções do tecido neural e do sistema musculoesquelético. No entanto, é uma técnica ainda pouco conhecida e explorada pelos profissionais da área da saúde no Brasil. Diante disto resolveu-se realizar este estudo com intuito de avaliar sua eficiência na hérnia de disco lombar em relação à fisioterapia convencional. Participaram do estudo 30 indivíduos com hérnia de disco lombar unilateral,voluntários, selecionados por conveniência, independente de sexo,idade, tempo de acometimento, etnia e atividade profissional, desde que preenchessem os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, que foram divididos em grupo experimental (EXP) e controle (CONT), com15 participantes em cada, que receberam tratamentos distintos. O grupo CONT recebeu tratamento fisioterápico convencional enquanto o grupo EXP foi submetido ao tratamento de Mobilização Neural. A duração do programa foi de quatro semanas, com três sessões semanais. Ao se avaliar o efeito terapêutico em relação à dor ea incapacidade funcional, não se observou diferença estatisticamente significativa no grupo controle (CONT) na comparação intra-grupo(pré x pós). Já no grupo experimental (EXP), esta mesma comparação,pré e pós-tratamento, mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa em relação à dor e a capacidade funcional, pelo teste de Kruskal Wallis (p = 0,0001). Quando se realizou a comparação inter-grupos ( pós-EXP x pós-CONT), encontrou-se um intervalo de confiança (IC) favorável ao grupo EXP (IC: -46,48/-5,79). Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram resposta terapêutica satisfatória para regressão da sintomatologia dolorosa e incapacidade funcional,utilizando-se a técnica de Mobilização Neural na hérnia de disco lombar, unilateral, póstero-lateral, subaguda em curto período de tempo.

The Neural Mobilization is a therapeutic resource in many neural tissue and musculoskeletal system dysfunctions. Nevertheless, this technique remains underexploited by the health professionals in Brazil. Thirty individuals with unilateral lumbar disc herniation were selected by convenience, regardless of gender, age, duration of symptoms, ethnical group and professional activity, since they satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This sample was divided into two groups: experimental (EXP) and control (CONT), with15 participants each group, who received different treatments. The group CONT received conventional physical therapy treatment while the EXP group was submitted to the neural mobilization treatment. The individuals were treated for 4 weeks, with 3 weekly sessions. The control group (CONT), after using the conventional physical therapy techniques, did not show a statistically significant difference in comparison to the intragroup (pretreatment x post--treatment). On the other hand, the experimental group (EXP)showed a statistically significant difference in relation to pain and the functional capacity using the Kruskal Wallis test (p = 0.0001).When the results in the pre and post-treatment were compared intragroup post-EXP x post-CONT, the confidence interval (IC)was in favor of group EXP (IC: -46.48/-5.79). The results, in this study, showed a good therapeutic response, with regression of the painful symptomatology and functional incapacity, using Neural Mobilization technique, in individuals with unilateral, posterolateral,subacute lumbar disc herniation, in a short period.

Avaliação da mobilização neural sobre o ganho de amplitude de movimento / Assessment of neural mobilization over the gain in range of motion

INTRODUÇÃO: A mobilização neural (MN) visa a restaurar o movimento e a elasticidade do SN, e é utilizada como método de diagnóstico e tratamento das disfunções de origem neural. OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos imediatos da MN sobre o ganho de amplitude de movimento de extensão do cotovelo (ADMEC) em indivíduos com tensão neural adversa do nervo mediano (TNAm). METODOLOGIA: A amostra foi composta por estudantes universitários, de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária de 17 a 30 anos. Cada indivíduo foi avaliado bilateralmente por meio do teste de tensão do nervo mediano (ULTT1). Nos casos de teste positivo, foi aplicada a MN do nervo mediano e realizada a avaliação goniométrica imediatamente pré e pós-MN. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva e inferencial por meio do Teste de Normalidade Kolmogorov-Smirnov, teste t de Student e teste de Wilcoxon, sendo considerado um nível de significância de 5 por cento. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta por 60 voluntários, com idade média de 21,25 ± 0,29 anos, estatura média de 1,66 ± 0,11 metros e peso médio de 63,27 ± 1,53 kg. Observou-se ganho estatisticamente significante (p < 0, 001) da ADMEC em ambos os membros superiores após a MN, com valores de 31,57 ± 20,27° e 20,53 ± 15,27°, pré e pós, respectivamente, no membro superior direito, e 28,68 ± 22,43° e 16,57 ± 15,11°, pré e pós, no membro superior esquerdo. CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, a MN foi capaz de melhorar, com resultados imediatos, a ADMEC de forma significativa.

INTRODUCTION: The neural mobilization (NM) aims to restore movement and elasticity of the NS, and it is used as a method of diagnosis and treatment of disorders of neural origin. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effects of NM over the gain in range of motion of elbow extension (ROMEE) in individuals with adverse neural tension (ANT) of the median nerve. METHODOLOGY: The sample composed of college students, of both sexes, aged 17 to 30 years. Each subject was assessed bilaterally using the tension test of the median nerve (ULTT1). In cases of positive result of tests the NM was applied to the median nerve and goniometric evaluation performed immediately before and after NM. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential Normality Test f Kolmogorov Smirnov, t Student test and Wilcoxon test, considering a significance level of 5 percent. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 60 volunteers with a mean age of 21.25 ± 0.29 years, mean height of 1.66 ± 0.11 meters and mean weighing of 63.27 ± 1.53 kg. Was observed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) of ROMEE in both upper limbs after the NM, with values of 31.57 ± 20.27° and 20.53 ± 15.27°, pre and post, respectively, on the right and 28.68 ± 22.43° and 16.57 ± 15.11°, pre and post in the left upper limb. CONCLUSION: In this study, NM was able to improve, with immediate results, the ROMEE significantly.