Nerve tension mobilization versus active exercises in lumbar radiculopathy

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neural mobilization and spinal extension exercises in decreasing pain, hastening neural excitability and increasing, straight leg, raising range in patients with L5-S1 lumbar radiculopathy. Sixty patients with a history of prolapsed disc were involved in the study. Their age ranged from 30-60 years. They were divided randomly into 3 equally groups. Group "1" received neural mobilization, group "2" received spinal extension exercises, and group "3" received both neural mobilization and spinal extension exercises. Pain perception, range of motion of straight leg raise "SLR" and H-reflexi latency of posterior tibial nerve were used as measuring parameters. Results showed that the patients in group "3" got a greatest effect than those in group "1". The patients in group 2 "spinal extension exercises" got the least effect than those in other groups. It was concluded that the cumulative effect of, neural mobilization and spinal extension exercises, is effective to reduce signs of pain and dysfunction for patients with lumbar radiculopathy