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Neurodynamic Intervention for Lumbar Radiculopathy

Motor Control Exercises and Neurodynamic Intervention for Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03620864
Enrollment
32
Registered
2018-08-08
Start date
2018-08-10
Completion date
2018-12-05
Last updated
2018-12-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Brief summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition and has a significant impact on the individual in terms of pain and disability. Lumbar radiculopathy occurs often with LBP and may be the result of a lumbar herniated disc which will irritate a lumbar nerve trunk resulting in intraneural inflammation. There is evidence supporting the use of manual therapies of lumbar radiculopathy. One potential manual therapy is neurodynamic mobilization technique. No scientific evidence, based on a RCT, exists that this particular approach is beneficial for individuals with LBP and lumbar radiculopathy

Interventions

Patients will receive 8 sessions of motor control exercise program of 30 min duration for 4 weeks, twice per week. Exercises will be demonstrated to the participants by an experienced physical therapist. On each session, the therapist will correct each subject personally. Participants will be asked for practicing the exercises at home once daily for 20 minutes over the 8-week intervention period. The motor control exercise program will consist of a progression from isolated contraction of the transversus abdominis and/or isolated contraction of the multifidi to combined contraction of both transversus abdominis in different positions from supine or prone to bridging or four-point kneeling.

OTHERMotor Control Exercise Plus Neurodynamic Intervention

Patients will receive 8 sessions of motor control exercise program of 30 min duration for 4 weeks, twice per week. Exercises will be demonstrated to the participants by an experienced physical therapist. On each session, the therapist will correct each subject personally. Participants will be asked for practicing the exercises at home once daily for 20 minutes over the 8-week intervention period. The motor control exercise program will consist of a progression from isolated contraction of the transversus abdominis and/or isolated contraction of the multifidi to combined contraction of both transversus abdominis in different positions from supine or prone to bridging or four-point kneeling. In addition, participants allocated to the neurodynamic group will also receive a nerve neurodynamic slider intervention targeting the main trunk of the sciatic nerve of the affected side during al treatment sessions (n=8).

Sponsors

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Subjects with a confirmed (via MRI) disc herniation at between L4 and S1 level; * Subjects exhibiting lumbar radiating pain in the lower extremity for at least 3 months * Subjects with a positive straight leg raise with symptoms reproduction

Exclusion criteria

* indication for surgical intervention; * had a confirmed disc herniation at other lumbar levels; * have had any other spinal conditions such as spinal tumors or spondylolisthesis; * had received treatment for this condition by a physical therapist the previous 6 month; * pregnancy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Lower Extremity Pain IntensityBaseline, after 4 treatment sessions, after 8 treatment sessions,and 2 months after last treatment sessionA Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) where 0 represents no pain and 10 the maximum pain will be used to record the mean intensity of pain in the lower extremity

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in Neuropathic Mechanism ConsiderationBaseline, after 4 treatment sessions, after 8 treatment sessions,and 2 months after last treatment sessionThe Self-report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Scale (S-LANSS) will be used for assessing neuropathic mechanism. The S-LANSS is a 7-item tool for identifying patients whose pain is dominated by neuropathic mechanisms. Each item is a binary response (yes or no) to the presence of symptoms (5 items) or clinical signs (2 items). The total score is 24 points and a value ≥ 12 points is indicative of a neuropathic component of pain.
Changes in Related-DisabilityBaseline, after 4 treatment sessions, after 8 treatment sessions,and 2 months after last treatment sessionThe Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire will be used for assessing related-disability. The score can range from 0-24 with higher scores indicative of higher related-disability.
Changes in Mechanical Sensitivity of the Sciatic NerveBaseline, after 4 treatment sessions, after 8 treatment sessions,and 2 months after last treatment sessionThe degrees of the straight leg raise test will be used to assess sensitivity of the sciatic nerve
Changes in Pressure Pain ThresholdsBaseline, after 4 treatment sessions, after 8 treatment sessions,and 2 months after last treatment sessionPressure pain thresholds will be assessed with a mechanical algometer over the common peroneal and tibial nerve

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026