Effect of Sciatic Nerve Slider Technique in Different Positions in Low Back Pain Patients

Comparison of Sciatic Nerve Slider Technique in Different Positions in Patients With Low Back Pain Associated With Sciatica: Randomized Control Trial

Neural mobilization is a technique that plays an important role in repairing the neural tissue's ability to respond to stress or tension by triggering the reconstruction of normal physiological functioning, pain reduction, and functional improvement. The study aims to examine the effect of the sciatic nerve slider technique in different positions and which of the most common positions is more effective in the application of neural mobilization in low back pain with sciatica.

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, accounting for a significant portion of disability. It's a severe healthcare burden that has large societal costs, according to estimates, LBP can affect anywhere between 22% and 65% of people within a year. Additionally, back pain-related absences from work result in prolonged periods of sick leave, which has an adverse effect on workplace productivity.

Sciatica is the name given to a collection of symptoms caused by compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve, including pain, numbness, muscular weakness, and difficulty moving or controlling the legs. The lower back, buttocks, and multiple dermatomes of the leg and foot are typically where symptoms appear. Sciatica can be caused by a disc bulge or herniation, lumbar canal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, trauma, piriformis syndrome, or spinal tumors. It affects women more than men and people who lead sedentary lifestyles more than active ones. It might arise quickly or gradually with physical activity, and it is usually unilateral.

The slider and tensioner are two distinct types of neural mobilization procedures. There are clinical improvements and positive therapeutic benefits after treatment with different neural mobilization techniques, but the slider technique is safer, involves less stretching and strain of the nerves, and has a more significant effect than the tensioner technique.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age range between 40 - 65 years,
• Both genders,
• Diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging to confirm disc lesion,
• LBP with radicular pain for more than 12 weeks up to 1 year with no acute episodes in the last 4 weeks, and a numeric pain rating score (NPRS) greater than 4/10.
• Positive SLR test with reproduction of neurological symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sciatica due to other pathologies (e.g. lumbar canal stenosis or piriformis syndrome),
• Having any physiotherapy before 6 months.
• History of spinal surgery
• Vertebral fracture or trauma,
• Negative SLR test,
• pregnant.