Influence of Muscle Stretching and Neural Mobilizations on Lower Limbs Range of Motion in Asymptomatic Subjects.

Asymptomatic Condition Clinical Trial

Official title: Determining the Most Efficient Techniques of Gain of Range of Motion in Function of the Type of Limitation in Asymptomatic Subjects.

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

First, this study aims to use the straight leg raising test (SLR) and the knee angle extension test (KEA) test associated to a structural differentiation to determine the limitation of the lower limb (muscular or nervous) in asymptomatic subjects.

Second, this study will try to determine the most efficient exercice to increase range of motion of the lower limb in function of subjects limitation type (muscular, nervous,) using neural mobilization (sliders or tensioners) and muscle stretching.

Two groups will be constituted for each test (SLR and KEA) based on the limitation defined during the test:

Group 1: Muscle limitation Group 2: Neural limitation

Each group will be subdivided in four subgroups depending on the intervention participants will receive:

• subgroup 1: Muscle stretching group

• subgroup 2: Neural tensioner group

• subgroup 3: Neural slider group

• subgroup 4: Control group

Participants from groups 1,2 and 3 will be asked to do an exercice every day during 31 days, independently of their subgroup allocation.

Participants from group 1 will perform a muscle stretching technique during 20 second twice a day.

Participants from group 2 will do 10 repetitions of tensioner twice a day. Participants from group 3 will do 10 repetitions of a slider twice a day.

Subgroup comparisons of the evolution of the range of motion during SLR and KEA before and after the month of exercice will determine which technique is the most efficient for a specific type of limitation.

Clinical Trial Description

Objectives:

First, this study aims to use the straight leg raising test (SLR) and the knee angle extension test (KEA) test associated to a structural differentiation to determine the limitation of the lower limb (muscular or nervous) in asymptomatic subjects.

Second, this study will try to determine the most efficient exercice to increase range of motion of the lower limb in function of subjects limitation type (muscular, nervous,) using neural mobilization (sliders or tensioners) and muscle stretching.

Procedures:

All the participants will attend two assessment sessions i.e., at baseline and after 31 days, expect for participants allocate in the control group, who will be also tested 48 to 72 hours after the first evaluation in order to determine the test/retest reliability of the structural differentiation.

Baseline session:

During the baseline session, demographics data will be collected (age, gender, height and weight) and a check for exclusions criteria will be conducted. The identification of the dominant lower limb will then be performed by asking participants to shoot on a ball

The Identification of the limitation

The leg to be tested will be the dominant one in half of the population while the other half will have the non-dominant leg tested. In order to standardize the assessments, participants will be placed supine with the cervical spine in neutral position and with the upper part of head at the edge of the examination table (Table with a moveable head set) with both hands placed under the lumbar spine. Furthermore, a belt will be place to fix the pelvis to the examination table at the level of the anterior superior iliac spine.

The SLR and the KEA tests will then be performed. For standardization purposes, the same sequence of testing will be used at each session for the same participant (first SLR and second KEA or conversely), but sequences of tests will be used alternatively between participants to avoid methodological bias. Participants will be asked to say "stop" when a discomfort appears at the posterior part of the tight, the calf, the knee, the buttock or in the foot.

For the SLR, the investigator will induce a hip flexion movement, while maintaining the knee in extension, with one hand placed on the distal anterior part of the tight and with the other hand located on the posterior distal part of the leg (9).

For the KEA a labrique inclinometer will be placed on the anterior part of the tight allowing the investigator to control that a 90° of hip flexion is maintained, while he will passively induce a knee extension.

A second investigator will evaluate the hip and knee range of motion during the SLR and KEA respectively, with an electronical inclinometer using the more proximal part of the tibial tuberosity as a marker for the device placement.

While maintaining the ipsilateral SLR or KEA, a structural differentiation (SD) will be used to identify the structure related to patient discomfort. In order to do the SD, 2 stages will be conducted: first a third investigator will passively induce a flexion of the thoracic spine using the movable cranial part of the table and will manually move the cervical spine in flexion. The participant will then be invited to define if the discomfort in the limb tested is modified using the following predefined descriptors: increase, decrease, not changed, different location of the symptoms or a combination of these. In the second stage, the third investigator will induce a passive extension of the thoracic and cervical spine and participants will be asked to report any potential changes of the lower limbs discomfort using the same descriptors as mentioned previously.

Interpretation of the tests and group allocation:

If both stages of the SD did not change the lower limb discomfort, a "muscle limitation" will be suspected. Nervous structures will be suspected to be the limiting factor, if the discomfort was increased during the flexion part of the SD and decreased during the extension part.

Thereby, participants will be divided in two groups: the "Nerve group"will included the participants in whom nervous structures were suspected to be the limiting factor after SD ; the "Muscle group" will include participant for whom a "muscle limitation" was suspected.

Exercise allocation will be done by another investigator in a separate room. In each groups ("Nerve" or "Muscle"), participants will be randomized in one of the four following subrgroups:

• subgroup 1: Muscle stretching group

• subgroup 2: Neural tensioner group

• subgroup 3: Neural slider group

• subgroup 4: Control group

Participants from groups 1,2 and 3 will be asked to do an exercice every day during 31 days, independently of their subgroup allocation.

Participants from group 1 will perform a muscle stretching technique during 20 second twice a day.

Participants from group 2 will do 10 repetitions of tensioner twice a day. Participants from group 3 will do 10 repetitions of a slider twice a day.

Subgroup comparisons of the evolution of the range of motion during SLR and KEA before and after the month of exercice will determine which technique is the most efficient for a specific type of limitation. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Asymptomatic Condition
• Asymptomatic Diseases

• NCT number: NCT05899244
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Liege
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 15, 2023
• Completion date: October 4, 2023