Neurodynamic mobilization in a collegiate long jumper with exercise-induced lateral leg and ankle pain: A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Case Report. BACKGROUND: The purpose of this case report is to describe nerve mobilization in the treatment of lower extremity neuropathic pain in a female collegiate long jumper. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21 year-old long jumper presented 7 months after onset of ankle and leg pain. She complained of "aching" pain over the lateral ankle, radiating proximally to just superior to the lateral knee. Neurodynamic testing of the sural and superficial branch of the fibular nerves was positive. Interventions/Outcomes: Persistent neuropathic pain which impeded sport participation in a collegiate athlete did not improve using traditional rehabilitation intervention, but did ameliorate as a result of an intervention which included self-administered, supervised nerve mobilization of the sural and superficial branch of fibular nerve. The patient improved in all outcome measures including the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and the Global Rating of Change (GROC). DISCUSSION: In a female collegiate athlete with persistent neuropathic pain, initial improvements were achieved with traditional rehabilitation, but her pain continued. Considerable additional improvements were achieved following the addition of self-administered, supervised nerve mobilization. Neurodynamic testing should be performed on patients with possible peripheral nerve involvement and treatment commenced if positive.