Effects of Neural Flossing and PNF on Lumbar Radiculopathy

Riphah International University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Lumbar Radiculopathy

Treatments: Other: neural flossing with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; Other: Neural flossing without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05922228

REC/RCR&AHS/23/0212

Details and patient eligibility

About

the goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effects of neural flossing with and without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on pain, range of motion and disability in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. the main question it aim to answer is :- Does proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation added benefit when combined with neural flossing to pain, range of motion and disability in lumbar radiculopathy patients? Research will compare the neural flossing group with the group receiving neural flossing with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation to see if there is any difference in the outcomes.

Full description

Lumbar radiculopathy is a mutual condition amongst persons presenting to a spinal physician for consultation. Lumbar radiculopathy is a term used to describe the pain that is started in low back and radiated along the nerve root. The patient mostly complains from a low back pain that radiates toward the legs. Symptoms may include radiating pain, weakness, hypo-reflexia and gait abnormalities. The pain is caused by the neurological manifestations of a compressive force along a specific nerve route. The main cause of radiculopathy is compression or irritation of nerve root exited from spinal cord. Lumbar radiculopathy can affect anyone regardless of their age, gender, race and geographical locality. About 40% people developed low back pain at some points in their life and out of them 3-5% population developed lumbar radiculopathy.

A study conducted to find out the influence of nerve flossing technique on acute sciatica and hip range of motion with sample size of 32. It was concluded that as a result of nerve flossing technique since no statistically significant changes occurred between the two groups. Hence, for effective reduction of sciatic pain and possible improvement in hip range of motion, nerve flossing technique should be combined with conventional physiotherapy. A study conducted on mobilization of Neurodynamic system using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) decrease pain and increase mobility in lower extremities and spine suggested that PNF based rehabilitation approach results in improvement of pain, nerve mobility and balance.it also has positive effects by supplying oxygen to nerve, increase nerve mobility and decrease pain.

Some studies have been done testing the effects of neural flossing technique and PNF techniques individually as a treatment option for lumbar radiculopathy. But, up to the researcher's knowledge there is little literature on comparing both treatments with respect to pain, range of motion and disability in lumbar radiculopathy.

Enrollment: 22 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 35-50 years.
• Both males and females.
• Pain intensity is 4 out of 10 on numeric pain rating scale.
• History of radiculopathy for more than 3 weeks.
• Pain radiating below to knee.

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive impairment.
• Using pain modulating medicines.
• Patients with comorbidities.
• Pain radiating above to knee.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

Neural flossing with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Experimental group

Description:

nerve flossing technique protocol along with contract relax technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation is used

Treatment:

Other: neural flossing with proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Neural flossing without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Active Comparator group

Description:

only nerve flossing technique protocol is used

Treatment:

Other: Neural flossing without proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation