Neurodynamic Study

Patients who have given informed consent will be randomly allocated to one of three groups in a ratio of 1:1:1 (Control Group, Intervention Group 1, Intervention Group 2). Randomisation reduces selection bias and controls for unknown variables that may affect the outcome. Treatment allocation will occur through the use of sealed, opaque envelopes and will be implemented by the Graves Move More reception team as the patient attends the clinic. The reception staff will hand an opaque envelope to the subject for them to open. Randomisation undertaken by an independent third party improves internal validity. Patients will be treated according to the group they have been randomised to.

Data Collection, Analysis & Statistical Opinion Prior to undertaking the study, baseline socio-demographic data will be recorded (E.g. age, sex, weight, height, occupation and duration of symptoms). Pre and posttest outcome data will also be recorded for the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI). Long-term data (I.e. 6-12 months post-treatment) will not be recorded as treatment effect is not being analysed as part of the pilot study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients presenting with sciatic leg pain or dysaesthetic symptoms into one leg, below the knee who have had lumbar/sacral nerve root compression excluded through MRI
• Duration of symptoms greater than 12 weeks
• Reproduction of the patients symptoms with SLR test + passive ankle dorsiflexion
• Patients aged between 18-75 years of age (both male and female participants)

Exclusion criteria

• Any form of lower limb or spinal entrapment neuropathy
• Patients who have not had a lumbosacral MRI
• Any contraindications to manual therapy including; cancer, cauda equina syndrome, active inflammatory arthropathies, rapidly deteriorating neurology, spinal fracture
• Previous lumbar spinal surgery
• Inability to undertake side lying
• Patients unable to give informed consent