Acute Effects of Neurodynamics on Strength and Endurance in Athletes

NCT07721220 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRB-FY2026-110
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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

Keywords

hamstring; sciatic nerve; athlete

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Isometric Strength

  Isometric strength of the hamstrings in knee flexion.

  From initial strength and endurance test, to the post intervention strength and endurance test, assessed during a single study visit, assessed up to 30 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Endurance Ratio (isokinetic)

  From initial endurance test to post intervention endurance test, during a single study visit, assessed up to 30 minutes.

Study Arms (3)

Sliders

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Manually applying slider technique of neurodynamics.

Other: Sciatic Slider

Tensioners

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Manually applied tensioner, neurodynamic technique

Other: Sciatic Tensioner

Mechanically Loaded Neurodynamics

EXPERIMENTAL

Externally loaded neurodynamic intervention in the slider technique.

Other: Mechanically loaded neurodynamic sciatic floss; Device: Elastic Resistance Band

Interventions

Elastic Resistance Band DEVICE

Elastic resistance band was used to provide submaximal resistance during the mechanically loaded neurodynamic intervention.

Mechanically Loaded Neurodynamics

Sciatic Tensioner OTHER

Loading the nerve, by placing tension on both ends of the nerve, isometrically at end range of motion.

Tensioners

Sciatic Slider OTHER

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.

Sliders

Mechanically loaded neurodynamic sciatic floss OTHER

Placing tension on one end of the nerve while taking the tension off the other end, under external load of an elastic resistance band.

Mechanically Loaded Neurodynamics

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• High Point University: lead

Study Sites (1)

High Point University

High Point, North Carolina, 27268, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Intervertebral Disc Displacement

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Hernia; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Tommy Wyatt, DPT

  High PointUniversity

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Dr. Tommy Wyat, DPT

CONTACT

856-381-6652; twyatt2@highpoint.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr. Tommy Wyatt

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2026
• First Posted: July 22, 2026
• Study Start: June 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2026
• Study Completion: July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: From study end date, for 3 years following.
• Access Criteria: Yes, individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification (text, tables, figures, and appendices), will be shared. Information will be available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal to achieve aims in the approved proposal. Data will be available beginning 3 months and ending 36 months following article publication. Supporting documents including the study protocol and statistical analysis plan will also be available. Requests should be directed to twyatt2@highpoint.edu

Locations

US (1)