NCT04146597

Brief Summary

Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that consists of various techniques that aim to place the opponent in submission. It is essentially a ground fight that requires large movement variety, among which flexibility is a substantial physical aptitude, required to perform specific positions of attack or defence, especially flexibility of the thoracolumbar spine and hamstrings. The literature reports that abnormal posterior lower limb neurodynamics may influence hamstring extensibility and muscle length, and lead to changes in perception of stretch and pain. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of NM, using sliding techniques of the sciatic nerve, immediately after Jiu Jitsu training, on HM flexibility of Jiu Jitsu practitioners. The hypothesis is that NM sliders applied immediately after training would be as effective as an isolated intervention, as demonstrated in soccer players.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
22

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2024

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 28, 2019

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 31, 2019

Completed
4.3 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2024

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 30, 2024

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 30, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

April 17, 2025

Status Verified

April 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

October 28, 2019

Last Update Submit

April 16, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Passive Knee Extension Test (PKE)

    consisting of passive knee extension with hip and knee stabilized at 90º, with the contralateral limb stabilized at the middle third of the thigh and leg by another researcher, and upper limbs along the trunk. From this position passive extension of the knee was performed by the researcher until the patient communicated the sensation of discomfort without pain in the tested hamstrings. This test shows intra-examiner reliability of 0.99.

    5 week follow up.

  • Straight leg raise test (SLR):

    consisting of raising the limb through passive hip flexion, keeping the knee extended and the subject in the dorsal decubitus position on the mat with both legs extended and upper limbs along the trunk. The assessment of the hip angle was performed by flexing the hip and maintaining the extension of the knee and ankle free, with the contralateral limb stabilized in the middle third of the thigh and leg by another researcher. It is reported that the SLR has a dual function, besides measuring the flexibility of hamstrings it also accesses the sciatic nerve and can test its mobility (Rolls and George, 2004).

    5 week follow up.

Study Arms (1)

Neural mobilization

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention is always performed after Jiu Jitsu practice and at the training site itself. Neural mobilization consisted of the execution of a sciatic nerve sliding technique in three sets of one minute for each lower limb with an interval of one minute between sets, twice a week, for five consecutive weeks, totaling 10 interventions (Garber et al., 2011). The order of the first lower limb to be submitted to the intervention is not standardized, being at the discretion of the subjects.

Other: Neural mobilization

Interventions

Neural mobilization (NM) is a physiotherapy method aimed at restoring the dynamic balance between the relative movement of neural tissues and surrounding mechanical interfaces, and different techniques are used for the treatment of various compression syndromes as well as other pain conditions, such as back and neck pain (Basson et al., 2017; Ellis and Hing, 2008). The main techniques used are neurodynamic sliders and neurodynamic tensioners, with the tensioning techniques being considered the more aggressive approach, in which the increase in nerve length occurs (Silva et al., 2014). The neurodynamic sliders techniques are gentle maneuvers as they involve nerve lengthening at one joint and simultaneous reduction in its length at an adjacent joint in order to produce sliding movements of neural structures relative to adjacent tissues (Efstathiou et al., 2015).

Neural mobilization

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 59 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Healthy adults of regular practitioners of Jiu Jitsu;
  • Aged between 18 and 59 years;
  • Both sexes.

You may not qualify if:

  • Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test \> 75º;
  • Hamstrings injury in the previous three months;
  • History of any neurological disorder (such as sensory deficits and irradiated pain) or orthopaedics (such as soft tissue or bone injuries) that affected a lower extremity;
  • Positive neural tension test (uni or bilateral);
  • Fracture in a lower extremity with surgical treatment history in the previous12 months and with conservative treatment in the previous 6 months;
  • Herniated lumbar disc diagnosis.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Brasilia

Brasília, Federal District, 72220-900, Brazil

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Castellote-Caballero Y, Valenza MC, Martin-Martin L, Cabrera-Martos I, Puentedura EJ, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C. Effects of a neurodynamic sliding technique on hamstring flexibility in healthy male soccer players. A pilot study. Phys Ther Sport. 2013 Aug;14(3):156-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2012.07.004. Epub 2012 Nov 8.

    PMID: 23142014BACKGROUND
  • Andreato LV, Lara FJD, Andrade A, Branco BHM. Physical and Physiological Profiles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes: a Systematic Review. Sports Med Open. 2017 Dec;3(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s40798-016-0069-5. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Study Officials

  • Wagner Martins

    University of Brasilia

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 28, 2019

First Posted

October 31, 2019

Study Start

February 1, 2024

Primary Completion

November 30, 2024

Study Completion

March 30, 2025

Last Updated

April 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations