Assessment of handgrip strength after neural mobilization

Abstract

Introduction: Neural mobilization is a technique that seeks the restoration of motion and elasticity of the nervous system; however, there are few studies evaluating its effectiveness on clinical variables. Objective: To assess handgrip strength among individuals undergoing intervention with neural mobilization. Methodology: a crossover study in which 20 subjects were sampled, mean age 19.5 ± 0.92 years, divided in two groups (G1 and G2) that received each week a single intervention session so that G1 received neural mobilization and G2 was submitted to conventional stretching exercises for the supraspinal in the first week. The opposite happened on the second week, in which G1 was submitted to conventional stretching exercises for the supraspinal and G2 received neural mobilization. Stretching for the supraspinal served only as placebo and did not impose tension to the nerves under study. The neural mobilization was applied in the radial, median and ulnar nerves. The hand grip strength was assessed using a grip dynamometer at various times: before and immediately after, 20 minutes and one hour after each intervention. Results: no significant results were found for the neural mobilization or the stretch. Conclusion: Neural mobilization was not effective to produce increase in handgrip strength in healthy subjects.