EFFECTIVENESS OF NEURAL MOBILIZATION COMBINED WITH MYOFASCIAL RELEASE ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH SCIATICA: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/s4srm762Keywords:
Functional Recovery; Manual Therapy; Myofascial Release; Neural Mobilization; Pain.Abstract
Background: Sciatica is a common neuromuscular disorder caused by compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots, leading to radiating pain, restricted movement, and functional limitations. In physiotherapy practice, Neural Mobilization (NM) and Myofascial Release (MFR) are frequently used to reduce pain and improve neural mobility. However, evidence comparing the combined use of NM and MFR with their individual application remains limited.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the combined effects of neural mobilization and myofascial release against each technique alone on pain, function, and neural mobility in individuals with chronic sciatica.
Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted over six months at the Dynamic Physiotherapy Clinic, Kabal, Swat, and the Physiotherapy Department of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital. Forty-eight participants aged 20–40 years with unilateral chronic sciatica (>3 months) were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16 each): Group A (NM + MFR), Group B (NM alone), and Group C (MFR alone). Interventions were applied twice weekly for four weeks. Outcomes included neural mobility assessed by the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, functional ability measured by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and pain intensity measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 with Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: All groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, function, and neural mobility from baseline to post-treatment. Although between-group differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), the combined NM + MFR group showed greater mean improvements in functional outcomes and pain reduction. A trend favoring the combined approach was observed for post-treatment NPRS scores (χ² = 5.127, p = 0.077).
Conclusion: Neural Mobilization and Myofascial Release, whether applied individually or in combination, are effective in managing sciatica. The combined approach demonstrated superior clinical improvements, suggesting potential synergistic benefits in physiotherapy rehabilitation.
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