Acute Effects of Neurodynamics on Strength and Endurance in Athletes

Purpose

This study explores the acute effects of neurodynamics, an intervention commonly used by physical therapist to improve nerve mobility and decrease pain, on the strength and muscular endurance in the athletic population. This study aims to find if these interventions can maintain or promote strength and endurance in the hamstrings. The studies results will help physical therapist better prescribe exercise and hands-on treatment for hamstring and sciatic nerve related conditions and injuries.

Conditions

  • Sciatic Leg Pain
  • Hamstring Muscle Tightness
  • Hamstring Muscle Strain
  • Hamstring Muscle Strength
  • Hamstring Injuries
  • Hamstring Injury Prevention
  • Hamstring Rupture
  • Sciatic Nerve Injury
  • Sciatic Radiculopathy
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation With Radiculopathy
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 30 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Participants must be between 18 and 30 years of age. - Must be able to read, understand, and provide informed consent, in English. - Must be currently participating in an organized sport (e.g. collegiate, club, or competitive recreational level) or engaging in structured resistance training and athletic conditioning for recreational sports events (e.g 5k, marathon, Crossfit, Hyrox, etc). - Medically stable with no known contraindications to physical exertion. - Cleared for participation in strength or maximal-effort isometric testing. - Be able to perform lower extremity isometric testing without pain that limits maximal effort. - Must have 2 lower extremities capable to producing full range knee flexion and extension range of motion. - No medical condition that significantly alters lower extremity neuromuscular performance. - No history of lower extremity surgery in the past 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Individuals younger than 18 or older than 30. - Acute lower extremity injury in the last 12 weeks. - Lower extremity surgery within the last 12 months. - Pain in either lower extremity that would limit maximal physical exertion. - History of neurological disorders, including but not limited to: Neuropathy, Stoke, MS, Parkinson's Disease, etc. - Use of medications that significantly impact neuromuscular performance, strength or fatigue. - No supplementation that affects neuromuscular performance, strength, or fatigue. - Unable to read and understand English. - Not in a vulnerable population: Pregnant, mentally or physically challenged, cognitively impaired.

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Sliders 		Manually applying slider technique of neurodynamics.
  • Other: Sciatic Slider
    Mobility of a nerve, by placing tension on one end of the nerve and slacking (removing) tension off the other side of the nerve, through a full range of motion.
Active Comparator
Tensioners 		Manually applied tensioner, neurodynamic technique
  • Other: Sciatic Tensioner
    Loading the nerve, by placing tension on both ends of the nerve, isometrically at end range of motion.
Experimental
Mechanically Loaded Neurodynamics 		Externally loaded neurodynamic intervention in the slider technique.
  • Other: Mechanically loaded neurodynamic sciatic floss
    Placing tension on one end of the nerve while taking the tension off the other end, under external load of an elastic resistance band.
  • Device: Elastic Resistance Band
    Elastic resistance band was used to provide submaximal resistance during the mechanically loaded neurodynamic intervention.

Recruiting Locations

High Point University
High Point, North Carolina 27268
Contact:
Dr. Tommy Wyatt, DPT
856-381-6652
twyatt2@highpoint.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
High Point University

Study Contact

Dr. Tommy Wyat, DPT
856-381-6652
twyatt2@highpoint.edu