Effect of Neural Mobilization on Nerve-Related Neck and Arm Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Physiotherapy Canada 2020-11, Vol.72 (4), p.408-419
• Main Authors: Basson, Cato Annalie, Stewart, Aimee, Mudzi, Witness, Musenge, Eustasius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Manual Therapy Series
• ISSN: 0300-0508; 1708-8313
• DOI: 10.3138/ptc-2018-0056

Neural mobilization (NM) is often used to treat nerve-related conditions, and its use is reasonable with nerve-related neck and arm pain (NNAP). The aims of this study were to establish the effect of NM on the pain, function, and quality of life (QOL) of patients with NNAP and to establish whether high catastrophizing and neuropathic pain influence treatment outcomes. A randomized controlled trial compared a usual-care (UC;  = 26) group, who received cervical and thoracic mobilization, exercises, and advice, with an intervention (UCNM;  = 60) group, who received the same treatment but with the addition of NM. Soft tissue mobilization along the tract of the nerve was used as the NM technique. The primary outcomes were pain intensity (rated on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale), function (Patient-Specific Functional Scale), and QOL (EuroQol-5D) at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. The secondary outcomes were the presence of neuropathic pain (using the Neuropathic Diagnostic Questionnaire) and catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophising Scale). Both groups improved in terms of pain, function, and QOL over the 12-month period (