title: Excursion of the Sciatic Nerve During Nerve Mobilization Exercises: An In Vivo Cross-sectional Study Using Dynamic Ultrasound Imaging.
abstract: METHODS
  Controlled laboratory cross-sectional study using single-group, within-subject comparisons.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether different types of neurodynamic techniques result in differences in longitudinal sciatic nerve excursion.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Large differences in nerve biomechanics have been demonstrated for different neurodynamic techniques for the upper limb (median nerve), but recent findings for the sciatic nerve have only revealed small differences in nerve excursion that may not be clinically meaningful.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-resolution ultrasound imaging was used to quantify longitudinal sciatic nerve movement in the thigh of 15 asymptomatic participants during 6 different mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerve involving the hip and knee. Healthy volunteers were selected to demonstrate normal nerve biomechanics and to eliminate potentially confounding variables associated with dysfunction. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The techniques resulted in markedly different amounts of nerve movement (P<.001). The tensioning technique was associated with the smallest excursion (mean ± SD, 3.2 ± 2.1 mm; P < or = .004). The sliding technique resulted in the largest excursion (mean ± SD, 17.0 ± 5.2 mm; P<.001), which was approximately 5 times larger than that resulting from the tensioning technique and, on average, twice as large as that resulting from individual hip or knee movements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with current theories and findings for the median nerve, different neurodynamic exercises for the lower limb resulted in markedly different sciatic nerve excursions. Considering the continuity of the nervous system, the movement and position of adjacent joints have a large impact on nerve biomechanics.
authors: Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Michel W
authors: MW
authors: Coppieters
authors: Line S
authors: LS
authors: Andersen
authors: Runar
authors: R
authors: Johansen
authors: Per K
authors: PK
authors: Giskegjerde
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Høivik
authors: Siv
authors: S
authors: Vestre
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Nee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D013848:Thigh / Q000294:innervation; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: nerve biomechanics; neural mobilization; neurodynamics