Lee Herrington, Katie Bendix, Catherine Cornwell, Nicola Fielden and Karen Hankey
The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of structural differentiation or sensitising manoeuvres on responses of normal subjects to standard neurodynamic tests of straight leg raise (SLR) and slump test. In 88 asymptomatic subjects knee flexion angle was measured during the slump test in cervical flexion and extension; and hip flexion angle was measured during SLR test in ankle dorsi-flexion and neutral. The change in knee flexion, following addition of the structural differentiating manoeuvre to the slump test, was a significant increase in knee flexion angle. During the SLR test, a significant reduction in hip flexion occurred following structural differentiation.
Structural differentiating manoeuvres during SLR and slump have a significant effect on test response in terms of range of movement even in normal asymptomatic individuals. These responses should be taken into account during the assessment clinical reasoning process.
Manual Therapy, 2008, 13(4), 289-294