Effect of Neural Mobilization Exercises in Patients With Low Back-Related Leg Pain With Peripheral Nerve Sensitization: A Prospective, Controlled Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of slider and tensioner exercises on pain and range of motion (ROM) of straight leg raise (SLR) and slump tests in patients with low back–related leg pain with peripheral nerve sensitization. Methods: In this prospective, controlled trial, 51 patients with low back–related leg pain with peripheral nerve sensitization were divided into 3 treatment groups: slider (slider neural mobilization exercise + transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation [TENS]), tensioner (tensioner neural mobilization exercise + TENS), and control (only TENS). Each patient received 6 sessions over 2 weeks. The following outcomes were measured at baseline and after the first, third, and sixth sessions: visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and ROM of SLR and slump tests were performed for the symptomatic side. Results: Compared with controls, patients receiving the slider and tensioner exercises showed a greater decrease in pain at the third and sixth sessions (mean difference: ≥1.54 cm; 95% CI, 0.1-3.9). There was a significant difference in the ROM of the SLR test between the slider and controls at only the sixth session (mean difference: 16.7°; 95% CI, -29.2 to -4.3). Patients in the slider and tensioner groups demonstrated greater improvements in the ROM of slump test at all sessions compared with controls (mean difference: ≥12.5°; 95% CI, -32.1 to -6.4). There were no significant differences between the slider and tensioner groups in any outcome at any session. Conclusion: Patients in both slider and tensioner neural mobilization exercise groups demonstrated improvements in pain and ROM in patients with low back–related leg pain with peripheral nerve sensitization compared to those in the control group.