Comparison of Hypoalgesic Effects of Neural Stretching vs Neural Gliding: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate mechanical hypoalgesic effect of neural mobilization in asymptomatic subjects. We also compared neural gliding vs neural stretching to see which produced greater hypoalgesic effects in asymptomatic subjects.


METHODS
Forty-five asymptomatic subjects (20 men and 25 women; mean ± SD age, 20.8 ± 2.83 years) were randomly allocated into 3 groups: the neural glide group, the neural stretch group, and the placebo group. Each subject received 1 treatment session. Outcome measures included bilateral pressure pain threshold measured at the trigeminal, cervical, and tibialis anterior points, assessed pre-treatment and immediately post-treatment by a blinded assessor. Three-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate changes in pressure pain threshold, with group (experimental or control) as the between-subjects variable and time (pre-, post-treatment) or side (dominant, nondominant) as the within-subjects variable.


RESULTS
Group differences were identified between neural mobilization groups and the placebo group. Changes occurred in all of the pressure pain threshold measures for neural gliding, and in all but the trigeminal point for neural stretch. No changes in the pressure pain threshold measures occurred in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
This research provides new experimental evidence that neural mobilization produces an immediate widespread hypoalgesic effect vs placebo but neural gliding produces hypoalgesic effects in more body sites than neural stretching.
Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Aravaca, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Research Group on Movement and Behavioural Science and Study of Pain, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Craniofacial Pain (INDCRAN), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: h.beltran.alacreu@gmail.com.
Hector
H
Beltran-Alacreu
Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Aravaca, Madrid, Spain.
Laura
L
Jiménez-Sanz
Professor, Research Group on Movement and Behavioural Science and Study of Pain, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Craniofacial Pain (INDCRAN), Madrid, Spain; Professor, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
Josue
J
Fernández Carnero
Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Aravaca, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Research Group on Movement and Behavioural Science and Study of Pain, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Craniofacial Pain (INDCRAN), Madrid, Spain; Professor, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain.
Roy
R
La Touche
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D009420:Nervous System; D059225:Nociception / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
Manual Therapy; Nociception; Pain