The effects of the Mulligan Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG) mobilisation in the lumbar flexion range of asymptomatic subjects as measured by the Zebris CMS20 3-D motion analysis system.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the application of the Mulligan's Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glide (SNAG) technique on lumbar flexion ROM. The secondary aim was to measure the intra- and inter-day reliability of lumbar ROM employing the same procedure. 49 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either SNAG mobilisation or a sham mobilisation. Lumbar ROM was measured by a three dimensional electronic goniometer (Zebris CMS20), before and after each technique. there were no statistically significant results in ROM between groups. Furthermore no significant within group differences were observed. Intra- and inter-day reliability of flexion measurements was high indicating acceptable clinical applicability.

While the Zebris proved to be a reliable device for measuring lumbar flexion ROM, SNAG mobilisation did not demonstrate significant differences in flexion ROM when compared to sham mobilisation in asymptomatic subjects.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2008, 9, 131

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