The Effect of Neural Mobilization on Muscle Strength, Reaction Time And Pain Threshold

Abstract

ABSTRACT (ENGLISH): Purpose: This study's objective was to assess the effectiveness of neural mobilization on asymptomatic, healthy volunteers' pain, muscle strength, and reaction time. Material and Methods: Hand grip strength, reaction time, and pain thresholds of 50 participiants’ were evaluated using a dynamometer, the Nelson Hand Reaction Test, and a digital algometer, respectively. While the dominant extremities of the participants constituted the neural mobilization group, the non-dominant extremities constituted the control group. The same measurements were repeated in both extremities by the blinded assessor after median nerve mobilization was applied to the dominant upper extremities of participants. Results: When the measurements before and after mobilization were compared in the neural mobilization group, it was seen that the hand grip strength increased (p<0.01) and the reaction time decreased (p<0.001) after mobilization; The differences in pain threshold score were not statistically significant (p> 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in hand grip strength between the control group before and after neural mobilization (p> 0.05); however, a statistically significant decrease was found in reaction time and pain threshold score (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in parameters before and after mobilization (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Neural mobilization may increase grip strength in healthy individuals but has no effect on pain threshold. Its effect on reaction time can be explained by motor learning. New studies are needed in different disease groups.

Keywords

• neural mobilisation
• muscle strength
• reaction time
• pain threshold

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