Comparative Effects of Lower Body Quadrant Neural Mobilization and Stretching in Collegiate Football Players

Medipol Health Group

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stretch Injury; Sports Physical Therapy; Stretch

Treatments: Other: Neural Mobilization Group (NMG); Other: Dynamic Stretching Group (DSG); Other: Static Stretching Group (SSG)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06298851

E-10840098-772.02-2026

Details and patient eligibility

About

Neural mobilization (NM) refers to a therapeutic interventions that aim to directly or indirectly influence neural structures and adjacent tissues through manual techniques or exercise. The application of NM has been investigated in both patients and healthy individuals. In this study, participants from an amateur football team will be allocated into three groups, each undergoing pre-training warm-up protocols incorporating NM, dynamic stretching, or static stretching. Following the warm-up protocols, the effects on flexibility and athletic performance will be evaluated and compared across the groups.

Full description

Neural mobilization (NM) is an intervention that involves manual techniques or exercises designed to affect neural structures and surrounding tissues. It aims to restore normal neural mechanical and physiological responses to movement and posture by facilitating the sliding and tension of the nerves. NM techniques can be divided into two groups: gliding, which involves different joint movements, and tension, which extends the nerves in more than one joint. Although NM has been linked to various neurophysiological benefits, the precise mechanisms underlying its clinical efficacy remain uncertain.

The peripheral nervous system demonstrates the ability to adapt to changing mechanical forces encountered during daily activities and sports through nerve gliding and sliding mechanisms. Impaired gliding may result in increased neural stress and ischemic damage, affecting neural function. NM has been shown to improve lower extremity flexibility, which is crucial for enhancing functionality and minimizing injury risk in athletes. Neurodynamic techniques are frequently used to increase hamstring flexibility and reduce neural mechanosensitivity, contributing positively to athletic performance and injury prevention.

The aim of this study is to examine the comparative effects of static stretching, dynamic stretching and neural mobilization techniques used in pre-training warm-up sessions on flexibility and performance in collegiate football players.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between the ages of 18-25
• Not having had a lower or upper extremity injury in the last 3 months
• Not having had surgery in the last 6 months
• Playing amateur football regularly for at least 1 year

Exclusion criteria

• Orthopedic, neurological, rheumatological or cardiorespiratory health problems that would prevent them from performing the tests

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 3 patient groups

Neural Mobilization Group (NMG)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants of NMG performed sciatic, femoral and peroneal nerve and lumbar region gliding. All glides include 4 sets of 10 repetitions, with each gliding cycle lasting 6 seconds, and a 1-minute rest between sets for both extremities.

Treatment:

Other: Neural Mobilization Group (NMG)

Dynamic Stretching Group (DSG)

Experimental group

Description:

4 sets of 10 repetitions will be performed, each exercise cycle lasting 6 seconds, and a 1-minute rest period will be given between sets. All stretching exercises will be performed in two circuits.

Treatment:

Other: Dynamic Stretching Group (DSG)

Static Stretching Group (SSG)

Experimental group

Description:

4 sets of 4 repetitions will be applied to the lumbar extensor, hamstring, quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles located in both extremities, each stretching will last for 15 seconds and a 1-minute rest period will be given between sets.

Treatment:

Other: Static Stretching Group (SSG)