Premium
Shear Wave Elastographic Investigation of the Immediate Effects of Slump Neurodynamics in People With Sciatica
Author(s) -
Neto Tiago,
Freitas Sandro R.,
Andrade Ricardo J.,
Vaz João R.,
Mendes Bruno,
Firmino Telmo,
Bruno Paula M.,
Nordez Antoine,
Oliveira Raúl
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.15144
Subject(s) - sciatica , medicine , sciatic nerve , straight leg raise , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , anesthesia , range of motion
Objectives Neurodynamic techniques are often used to treat people with sciatica pain, but their mechanical effects on the sciatic nerve are unknown. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been shown to effectively estimate the stiffness of peripheral nerves in real time. The aim of this study was to use SWE to assess the effects of slump neurodynamics in the sciatic stiffness of people with sciatica. Methods Sixteen participants volunteered for this study. The sciatic stiffness of 8 patients with unilateral chronic sciatica and 8 healthy control participants was measured by SWE, with the participants in a prone position and during a dynamic condition (ie, ankle dorsiflexion). These measurements were performed before and immediately after the neurodynamic intervention, which consisted of a static slump position applied to the symptomatic limb of the patients with sciatica and in a randomly chosen limb of the healthy participants. Results The 8 patients with sciatica included 6 male and 2 female patients, and the 8 healthy control participants included 5 male and 3 female volunteers. Slump neurodynamics resulted in an immediate decrease in the sciatic nerve stiffness of the symptomatic limb in people with sciatica by 16.1% (effect size = 0.65; P = .019). The intervention showed no significant changes in the sciatic nerve stiffness of the healthy participants (effect size = 0.05; P = .754). Conclusions Slump neurodynamics have the potential of decreasing the sciatic nerve stiffness in people with sciatica, and this effect can be quantified by SWE, which may provide valuable information for health professionals.