Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 1

Efficacy of Sciatic Nerve Mobilization in Lumbar Radiculopathy due to Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc

1Assistance Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

2Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Al Imran Rehabilitation, Karachi, Pakistan

3Assistance Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

4Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

Online published on 14 December, 2015.

Abstract

To evaluate the Efficacy of Sciatic Nerve Mobilization in Lumbar radiculopathy due to prolapsed intervertebral disc.

It was Quasi Experimental design. Non Probability Purposive sampling technique was used for sample collection.

Total of forty four patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to prolapsed intervertebral disc were included in this study, out of which 22 were females and 22 were males. The mean of the ages of total patients was 41.89 years. They were in single group. Patients were required to have symptoms that referred distal to the buttocks, thigh or leg, positive straight leg raise test.

Participants had received OPD based three treatment sessions per week for consecutive 3 weeks. The pre and post-test were designed to assess the efficacy of sessions where dependent variable was pain level and independent variable was Neurodynamic techniques.

Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and assessment form. The 11-point NPRS ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) and was used to indicate the intensity of current pain. Assessment form includes standardized history and diagnostic tools.

Total of forty four patients were included in this study, out of which 22 were females and 22 were males. Average of pre-assessment score was 6.95 and post-assessment score was 1.86 on NPRS, the paired sample t-test gives the significance in pre and post assessment scores with p<0.05.

Findings of this study exposed the fact that short term treatment sessions of Sciatic nerve mobilization/Neurodynamic by concerning pain and restoring the mobility of nerve has been beneficial in the management of disc prolapsed patients. But more research is in need to see the long term effects of treatment on lumbar radiculopathy.

Keywords

Low back dysfunction (LBD), Lumbar radiculopathy, Disc prolapsed, Neuropathic pain, Sciatica, Straight leg raise (SLR), Neural mobilization, Neurodynamics