Ali M Alshami1, Tadhi K Alshammari2, Mona I AlMuhaish3, Tarek M Hegazi3, Mahbubunnabi Tamal4, Fuad A Abdulla5. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2435, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia. alshami@iau.edu.sa. 2. Physical Therapy Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, 11564, Saudi Arabia. 3. Department of Radiology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, PO BOX 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia. 4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, PO Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia. 5. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2435, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Ankle movement is used as a sensitizing maneuver for sciatica during neurodynamic techniques. In vivo studies on the sciatic nerve biomechanics associated with ankle movement during different positions of neighboring joints are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate sciatic nerve excursion during ankle dorsiflexion in different positions in a healthy population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. High-resolution dynamic ultrasound imaging was used to measure longitudinal excursion of the sciatic nerve in the posterior thigh of 27 healthy participants during ankle dorsiflexion in six positions of the neck, hip, and knee. Both the long and short distance of the nerve excursion were measured. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for data analysis, and Eta squared (r) was used to quantify the effect size. RESULTS: Ankle dorsiflexion resulted in distal sciatic nerve excursion that was significantly higher in positions in which the knee was extended (median 0.7-1.6 mm) than in positions in which the knee was flexed (median 0.5-1.4 mm) (P ≤ 0.049, r ≥ 0.379). There were no significant differences in nerve excursion between positions where the neck was neutral compared with positions where the neck was flexed (P ≥ 0.710, r ≤ 0.072) or between positions where the hip was neutral compared with positions where the hip was flexed (P ≥ 0.456, r ≤ 0.143). CONCLUSION: The positions of adjacent joints, particularly the knee, had an impact on the excursion of the sciatic nerve in the thigh during ankle movement.
PURPOSE: Ankle movement is used as a sensitizing maneuver for sciatica during neurodynamic techniques. In vivo studies on the sciatic nerve biomechanics associated with ankle movement during different positions of neighboring joints are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate sciatic nerve excursion during ankle dorsiflexion in different positions in a healthy population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. High-resolution dynamic ultrasound imaging was used to measure longitudinal excursion of the sciatic nerve in the posterior thigh of 27 healthy participants during ankle dorsiflexion in six positions of the neck, hip, and knee. Both the long and short distance of the nerve excursion were measured. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for data analysis, and Eta squared (r) was used to quantify the effect size. RESULTS: Ankle dorsiflexion resulted in distal sciatic nerve excursion that was significantly higher in positions in which the knee was extended (median 0.7-1.6 mm) than in positions in which the knee was flexed (median 0.5-1.4 mm) (P ≤ 0.049, r ≥ 0.379). There were no significant differences in nerve excursion between positions where the neck was neutral compared with positions where the neck was flexed (P ≥ 0.710, r ≤ 0.072) or between positions where the hip was neutral compared with positions where the hip was flexed (P ≥ 0.456, r ≤ 0.143). CONCLUSION: The positions of adjacent joints, particularly the knee, had an impact on the excursion of the sciatic nerve in the thigh during ankle movement.
Authors: Michel W Coppieters; Line S Andersen; Runar Johansen; Per K Giskegjerde; Mona Høivik; Siv Vestre; Robert J Nee Journal: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Date: 2015-08-24 Impact factor: 4.751
Authors: Ricardo J Andrade; Antoine Nordez; François Hug; Filiz Ates; Michel W Coppieters; Pedro Pezarat-Correia; Sandro R Freitas Journal: J Biomech Date: 2015-12-18 Impact factor: 2.712