A. Pereira1, C. Teixeira1, K. Pereira1, L. Ferreira1, M. Marques1, A. Silva1
1Universidade de Aveiro, School of Health Sciences, Aveiro, Portugal
Background: Neural systems mobilization is commonly used as a means to facilitate the gliding of the nervous system in relation to the nerve bed and this movement is believed to improve the nervous system functioning. It has been shown to have several positive effects, including a positive impact on lower limb flexibility. However, whether the effects of the nervous system on flexibility are dependent on the dose applied has been seldom explored.
Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effect of two different doses of gliding neural mobilization (4 versus 8 sets of 10 repetitions) on lower limb flexibility of basketball athletes.
Methods: This was a randomized, parallel and double-blind study. Fifty-two healthy athletes (40 males, 12 females) were randomized to receive either 4 sets of 10 repetitions or 8 sets of ten repetitions of neural gliding of the dominant lower limb in a slumped position. Knee extension angle was assessed for flexibility (higher values are indicative of lower flexibility) before and after the intervention in the mobilized limbs. A mixed ANOVA was used to compare the effect of the intervention between groups.
Results: A significant effect of time was found (p<0,001), indicating a decrease in the knee extension angle from the baseline to the end of the intervention (Baseline: 4 sets group= 26,6±9,5; 8 sets group=28,4±8,5; End of intervention: 4 sets group= 24.1±11,3; 8 sets group= 24,9±9,3; p<0,001). However, no significant interaction was found between the dose of the intervention and the knee extension angle (p>0,05).
Conclusion(s): The neural gliding mobilization has a positive effect on flexibility, which seems to be independent of the dose (i.e., measured using the number of repetitions) used.
Implications: Using 4 sets of 10 repetitions of neural gliding is equivalent to using 8 sets of ten repetitions when aiming to improve lower limb flexibility in basketball players.
Funding, acknowledgements: FEDER through POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007746 funded by COMPETE2020 and National Funds, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, CINTESIS, R&D Unit.
Keywords: Neural gliding, Flexibility, Athletes
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University of Aveiro
Committee: The Ethics Council of University of Aveiro
Ethics number: 13/2019
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
