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Effects of Neurodynamic Mobilizations on Pain Hypersensitivity in Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis Compared to Robotic Assisted Mobilization: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Year: 2019

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the neurodynamic mobilization techniques compared with passive robotic physiologic movement in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial. A total of 72 patients (mean ± SD age 71 ± 11 years) with dominant symptomatic hand OA were randomized in 2 groups, and both received 12 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. The experimental group received neurodynamic mobilization of the median, radial, and ulnar nerves, and the control group received robotic-assisted passive movement treatment. Both groups also participated in a program of hand stability exercises. Outcome measures included pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), and strength measurements. Group-by-time effects were compared using mixed-model analyses of variance. RESULTS: (95% CI 0.3, 0.6); however, the difference was not statistically significant at 3 months postintervention. Although mean values in the experimental group were higher than in the control group at all PPT sites at both assessments, these differences were not statistically significant. The experimental group experienced a statistically significant reduction in pain immediately postintervention, but this was not present at the 3-month follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in pinch or grip strength between groups. CONCLUSION: We found that neurodynamic mobilizations decreased hypersensitivity in patients with hand OA immediately after the intervention; however, differences were no longer present at 3 months. The results suggest that these techniques may have some limited value in the short term but do not have lasting effects.

Source: Arthritis Care & Research

DOI: 10.1002/acr.24103

Authors: Paolo Pedersini, Kristin Valdes, Raquel Cantero-Tellez, Joshua A. Cleland, Mark D. Bishop, Jorge H. Villafañe