Effects of Spinal Mobilization With Leg Movement With and Without Neural Flossing Technique in Lumbar Radiculopathy

NCT07646379 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR&AHS/25/0124 Ruhma
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Lumbar radiculopathy is a spinal condition caused by compression or irritation of the lumbar nerve roots, leading to radiating leg pain, sensory changes, and functional disability. It commonly affects middle-aged and older adults, impairing daily activities and quality of life. Conservative treatments include medication, physiotherapy, and exercise. Spinal Mobilization with Leg Movement (SMWLM), a Mulligan technique, uses passive vertebral mobilization with active leg motion to reduce nerve compression and improve mobility. Neural flossing, or neurodynamic mobilization, enhances nerve mobility by promoting gliding of nerve roots, especially in cases of restricted neural movement. This study aims to evaluate the effects of spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) with and without neural flossing technique on pain, disability, and range of motion in patients with lumbar radiculopathy.

Conditions

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Keywords

pain, radiculopathy, range of motion, spinal mobilization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Numeric Pain Rating Scale for Pain

  It is a widely used subjective measure for assessing pain intensity, where patients rate their pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). It has high test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.92) and strong construct validity for acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions

  upto 4 weeks

• Goniometer for ROM

  It is a clinical instrument used to measure joint range of motion in degrees, commonly applied in musculoskeletal assessments. It demonstrates excellent intra-rater (ICC = 0.95) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.89), with strong validity when compared with digital motion analysis tools

  Upto 4 weeks

• Modfied Oswestry Disability Index for disability

  It is a self-reported questionnaire used to assess disability due to low back pain, covering aspects such as pain, mobility, and daily activities. It is a highly valid tool (construct validity r = 0.75) with excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90, ICC = 0.91), making it one of the most commonly used functional outcome measures in spine-related research

  Upto 4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

SMWLM along with neural flossing technique

EXPERIMENTAL

Spinal Mobilization with Leg Movement (SMWLM) and Neural Flossing are highly effective, conservative physical therapy approaches for managing lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica). They aim to reduce nerve root compression, disperse neural edema, and restore the healthy gliding of nerves within their surrounding tissues

Other: SMWLM along with Neural flossing technique

SMWLM without neural flossing technique

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Spinal Mobilization with Leg Movement (SMWLM) is a manual therapy technique developed by Brian Mulligan to treat lumbar radiculopathy. It combines sustained gliding pressure on the lumbar spine with passive or active straight leg raises to alleviate nerve compression, reduce pain, and restore mobility

Other: SMWLM without Neural flossing technique

Interventions

SMWLM along with Neural flossing technique OTHER

The participant will be positioned in side-lying with limb where the pain radiated to on top. Therapist 1 will stand at the participant's ventral side and apply transverse glide with the thumb on the involved lumbar spinous process. Therapist 2 will then abduct the affected leg by 10° and take the limb gently into hip flexion with knee extended, while the glide will be sustained continuously by therapist 1. The entire motion during mobilization will be maintained pain-free. The participant will be positioned in side-lying with limb where the pain radiated to on top. Therapist 1 will stand at the participant's ventral side and apply transverse glide with the thumb on the involved lumbar spinous process. Therapist 2 will then abduct the affected leg by 10° and take the limb gently into hip flexion with knee extended, while the glide will be sustained continuously by therapist 1. The entire motion during mobilization will be maintained pain-free.

SMWLM along with neural flossing technique

SMWLM without Neural flossing technique OTHER

The participant will be positioned in side-lying with limb where the pain radiated to on top. Therapist 1 will stand at the participant's ventral side and apply transverse glide with the thumb on the involved lumbar spinous process. Therapist 2 will then abduct the affected leg by 10° and take the limb gently into hip flexion with knee extended, while the glide will be sustained continuously by therapist 1. The entire motion during mobilization will be maintained pain-free. The procedure will be repeated three times as per Mulligans rule of 3, post which the SLR test and NPRS will be re-measured

SMWLM without neural flossing technique

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged between 30-50 years (9)
• Both male and female genders
• Patient should have lower back pain radiating to one side with numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness (12)
• Positive Lasegue \& slump test

You may not qualify if:

• Any fracture or other injury
• Any systemic illness
• Any inflammatory disease (Rheumatoid arthritis, gout)
• Disc herniation
• Piriformis syndrome
• Lumbar instability
• Scoliosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Physio house (Comprehensive Rehab Center)

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54920, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Soar H, Comer C, Wilby MJ, Baranidharan G. Lumbar radicular pain. BJA Educ. 2022 Sep;22(9):343-349. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2022.05.003. Epub 2022 Aug 1. No abstract available.

  PMID: 36033931 BACKGROUND

• Ali MS, Kelini KIS, Elsayed M, Galal DOSM, Abdul-Rahman RS. Prevalence of lumbosacral radiculopathy among physiotherapists of pediatric rehabilitation. Revista iberoamericana de psicología del ejercicio y el deporte. 2024;19(2):184-8.

  BACKGROUND

• Bateman EA, Fortin CD, Guo M. Musculoskeletal mimics of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Muscle Nerve. 2025 May;71(5):816-832. doi: 10.1002/mus.28106. Epub 2024 May 10.

  PMID: 38726566 BACKGROUND

• Pinto MV, Ng PS, Laughlin RS, Thapa P, Aragon Pinto C, Shelly S, Shouman K, Dyck PJ, Dyck PJB. Risk factors for lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2022 May;65(5):593-598. doi: 10.1002/mus.27484. Epub 2022 Jan 22.

  PMID: 34970748 BACKGROUND

• Hincapie CA, Kroismayr D, Hofstetter L, Kurmann A, Cancelliere C, Raja Rampersaud Y, Boyle E, Tomlinson GA, Jadad AR, Hartvigsen J, Cote P, Cassidy JD. Incidence of and risk factors for lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy in adults: a systematic review. Eur Spine J. 2025 Jan;34(1):263-294. doi: 10.1007/s00586-024-08528-8. Epub 2024 Oct 25.

  PMID: 39453541 BACKGROUND

• Price MR, Mead KE, Cowell DM, Troutner AM, Barton TE, Walters SA, Daniels CJ. Medication recommendations for treatment of lumbosacral radiculopathy: A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. PM R. 2024 Oct;16(10):1128-1142. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.13142. Epub 2024 Apr 17.

  PMID: 38629664 BACKGROUND

• Amjad F, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Gilani SA, Ahmad A, Hanif A. Effects of non-surgical decompression therapy in addition to routine physical therapy on pain, range of motion, endurance, functional disability and quality of life versus routine physical therapy alone in patients with lumbar radiculopathy; a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Mar 16;23(1):255. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05196-x.

  PMID: 35296293 BACKGROUND

• Wang S, Hebert JJ, Abraham E, Vandewint A, Bigney E, Richardson E, El-Mughayyar D, Attabib N, Wedderkopp N, Kingwell S, Soroceanu A, Weber MH, Hall H, Finkelstein J, Bailey CS, Thomas K, Nataraj A, Paquet J, Johnson MG, Fisher C, Rampersaud YR, Dea N, Small C, Manson N. Postoperative recovery patterns following discectomy surgery in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 1;12(1):11146. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-15169-8.

  PMID: 35778472 BACKGROUND

• Kim SJ, Jang HY, Lee S-M. Effects of spinal mobilization with leg movement and neural mobilization on pain, mobility, and psychosocial functioning of patients with lumbar disc herniation: A randomized controlled study. Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science. 2023;12(2):92-104.

  BACKGROUND

• Rakesh R. Effectiveness of Mckenzie Exercises Versus Neural Flossing Technique in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 2024;18.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Radiculopathy; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Rahat Afzal, MS-OMPT

  Governement Teaching Hospital Shahdara Lahore.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Samrood Akram, PhD*

CONTACT

03324806143; samrood.akram@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2026
• First Posted: June 12, 2026
• Study Start: May 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Locations

PA (1)