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Introduction Nine key points I
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This neurodynamics techniques DVD
and book has been produced by the
1 , wn"t is a neurodynamic test? |
Neurodynamics is the science of the relationships between
Neuro orthopaedic Institute mechanics and I
physiology of the nervous system. simply put it is
Australasia' with contributions from - the assessment and
treatment of the physical health of the nervous system. Just as a joint I
our international faculty' It is mor
and a muscle stretches, the nervous system arso has physicar prop".,i"Jut
expected that users will be health I
that are essential for movement. you can examine these
vra
Properures via
's Lrrese properties
::",ff:;?H #"t:nJJi"::::#, nerve parpation and neurodvnamic rests. I
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and neuro orthopaedic assessment 2 > tn" nervous system is a continuum I
plus knowledge of relevant pathology, A mechanical, electrical
and chemical continuum exlsts in the nervous
precautions and contraindications. system. This is the basis I
of tests such as the slump test, where for I
example, the position of the neck will influence neurar responses
For optimal and safe clinical in the leq. I
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4 > Neural relations to 6 t o.d.. of Movement
joint axes dictates load
The strain and movement of the nervous system
The nervous system is usually will be affected bv the order in which the movement
behind, in front, or to the side is taken up. For example, as illustrated, if you add
of joint axes of movement. This ankle dorsiflexion and eversion and then perform a
means that the physical loading Straight Leg Raise (SLR) , a neurogenic problem in
on the nervous svstem will be the tibial nerve at the ankle is more likely to be
dictated by joint position. In exposed than with other combinations.
the example shown of the
There are probably two reasons for this: a more
Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test (ULNT), wrist extension, mechanical reason where the neural tissues are
elbow extension, and shoulder abduction would be examples 'borrowed' from other areas and thus given more
of movements which challenge the median nerve and the of a chance to be challenged, or perhaps the first
brachial plexus. If you know your anatomy, you could make movement is the one which takes priority in the
up neurodynamic tests yourself. oatient's consciousness.
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7 t Slid.." and tensioners B > necording
A tensioner (1) can be a vigorous technique Abbreviations such as PFIIN/SLR inform
which 'oulls from both ends' of the nervous the order and kind of lnovement, thus ankle
system. A slider (2) is a 'flossing' movement plantar flexion first, then inversion and then
where tension is placed at one end of the Straight Leg Raise. Each component can
system and siack at the other, Sliders also be quantified in terms of range of
provide a large amount of neural movement movement or qualified in terms of
and are a neurally nonaggressive movement symptoms evoked.
for anxious patients. The 'In:Did' svstem is also used. For
example, In: HFlLR Did: KE means that in
the hip flexion and lateral rotation position,
knee extension was performed.
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Peroneal nerve
Anatomyandpalpation ....1 Passive techniques
Thera pist's assessment In: SLR/DFIEV Did: IMT mob . . 11
Passive techniques
In: KF/DF/IN Did: KEISLR'Ultimate tibial mob'. . . . 13 .
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Femora I nerve Median nerve
Anatomy and palpation. .. .2I Anatomyandpalpation. ...33
Therapist's assessment Activequicktest. ....,.34
Prone Knee Bend(PKB) . . .22 Thera pist's assessment
Slump Knee Bend (SKB). ........22 ULNT1 ......35-36
In: Slump SLY/KFIHE Did: HAb ULNT1Alternativeoosition .......36
Obturatortest.,. .......23 ULNT1Reversed.. ......37
In: Slump SLY/KFIHE Did: HAd ULNT1 Reversed: indexfingerfirst . . . . . . . 38
Meralgiatest... ........24 ULNT2. ........39
Self management ULNT2Seated oosition ....40
Half Pushup, Half Pushup + neck sli/ten. . . .25 Passive techniques
'Thomastestexercise .....26 ULNT2SIi/ten ....4I
'Hurdlerstretch' ........27 ULNTlSli/ten ....4I
'Nannaarm wobble' ......42
In: ULNT1Did: GHmob.. .,.....43
Saphenous nerve Self management > gentler movements
Anatomy and palpation. . . .29 Balloon patting,'Watch the watch'. . . . . . . . 44
Therapist's assessment Yoyo, Juggling..... .....44
Pro n e/H E/ HAb / KE/ MR/ DF / Ev 'No moredishes', Ball throwing progression .......45
Thesaphenoustest ......30 Self management > stronger movements
Passive technique 'Busy bee', 'Finger stretch', Wrist stretch . . . 46
In: Prone/HE/HA5/MR/DF/EV Did: KE . . . . ., . . . . . 31 'Rock around the clock' . . .46
Self management 'Sawatdika', Crawling,'Zorro', Balancing acts. . . . . . 47
Thesaohenousstretch ....32 Look atyourhands, Wall stretch . .. . . . . . . 48
'Freethe bird'.. ........48
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Ulnar nerve
PalPation.
Anatomy and " ' 49 Passive techniques
'' " " 50 'Gentle radialsliding' " ' "64
Activequicktest.
Therapist's assessment 'Wholearm rotations " " ' '64
In: ULNT2 (radial) Did: Rad head soft tissue mob ' ' ' 65
first
ULNT3 From wrist " " 51
ULNT3Fromshoulderfirst.' ""'52 Self management > gentler movements
Passive techniques 'Pouringwater'. """"66
In: ULNT3 Did: massage cubital tunnel ' ' ' ' 53 'Figuresof eight' " " " " 66
In: ULNT3 Did: Pisiform mob . ' " ' 53 'Pumpwater' "" 67
In: ULNT3 Did: Sli/ten ' " ' 54 Look at vour hand behind your elbow ' ' ' ' ' 67
Self management > gentler movements Self management > stronger movements
massages''
'Don't listen;'Face ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 55 'Backmassage'. ""'68
'Makea halo','smoking','Yahool' " " " ' ' 55 'Tipplease' """68
Self management > stronger movements 'Tablestretch ""'68
'Plateexercise' "'"56
'Dry the back', 'sunglasses', 'Crawl to the pits' ' ' ' ' ' 57 M uscu locuta neous nerve
AnatomyandPalPation. '. "'69
nerve Activequicktest ' " ' " '70
Anatomy and PalPation. " ' 59 Therapist's assessment
Active quick test. . ' . ULNT(musculocutaneous) " " ' ' '71
Thera pist's assessment Self Management
ULNT2 (radial)' ' '
o-t sPot
Running on the " ' ' '72
72
ULNT2 (radial) Seated variation 'ThrowitawaY''....
ULNT2 (radial) From wrist first
Spine, cord and meninges
Anatomy .......73 Self management > stronger techniques
Active quicktest. . . . . 'Wring'technique.
.
.......89
Therapist's assessment SLS/Shouldershrug .....90
Passive Neck Flexion (PNF). . .. ...75 'Kickyourhead off' ......91
Straight Leg Raise (SLR) Sensitising movements. . . . 76 'Kick your head off'Focus on peroneal nerve . . . . . 91
Bilateral SLR. , . ..... ...77 'Wall walking .....92
Slumptestactive. ......78 'Total slump' Bob Johnson technique . . .. . . 93
Slumptestpassive ......7g 'Roll over' ...,...93
SlumpLongSit(SLS). ....80
Passive techniques Other Nerves
SLS/ Structural differentiation . . . . . . . . . . 81 Accessory nerve (cranial nerveXl) . . . ....g4
In: leg distraction Did: necksli/ten. ......82 Axillarynerve ...95
In: SLS Did: Thx Lat flex techniques . . . . . . 83 Suprascapularnerve .....96
In: SLS Did: A/P movements . . . . .84 Trigeminal nerve. .......g7
Notalgia paraesthetica techniques . . . . . . . . 85 Occipital nerve ........98
Wedge mobilisation techniques/Thorax spine . . . . . . 86
Wedge mobilisation techniques/Cervico-thoracic area . . 87
Self management > genUer techniques
Pelvictilt/neckSli/ten .... BB
SlR/neckSli/ten. .......88
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Peroneal nerve > therapist's assessment p2
PFlIN/SLR
Foot held in plantar flexion/inversion As the hip is flexed the therapist's arm
maintains knee extension
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Peroneal nerve > passive techniques p3
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:" plantar flexion/inversion is a gentle way to
mobilise the peroneal nerve for physical
health issues anywhere along the nerve.
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Peroneal nerve > self management > stronger movements p7
Standing mobilisation
Note how all the movement components which place
load on the peroneal nerves and roots are used here.
The right hip is adducted and medially rotated and the
knee is held extended by the patient's left leg.
With foot in plantar flexion and inversion, spinal flexion
including neck flexion allows a strong self mobilisation
of the peroneal nerve and associated roots.
Peroneal nerve > self management > stronger movements pB
Wall mobilisation
The key with the wall technique, where the
patient lies in a doorway, is to make sure
that the foot is maintained in olantar flexion
and inversion via a towel or a strao.
'Hamstrings stretch'
Focus on peroneal nerve
The 'hamstrings stretch' is a reminder that
any muscle stretch will be likely to be a
nerve mobilisation, particularly if the
movements that place more load onto the
nerve are included,
In this example, note in image 2 the
addition of hip flexion, adduction and
medial rotation, ankle olantar flexion and
inversion and spinal flexion.
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nerve > anatomy and palpation p9
Palpable areas
A Posterior to the knee
B Medial ankle (plantar nerves)
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Palpable areas
A Lateral to the Achilles tendon
B Distal to the fibula
DFlIN/SLR
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The ankle is dorsiflexed and inverted and Therapist's forearm is on the shaft of the patient's
held firmly. tibia, maintaining knee extension during the SLR.
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Sural nerve > passive techniques p19
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Sural nerve > self management p20
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Palpable areas
A May be palpable through tissue at the inguinal ligament
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Femoral nerve > therapist's assessment
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Femoral nerve > self management p25
Half Pushup
Half pushups are widely used in
rehabilitation. The manoeuvre
mobilises all anterior hip structures
including the femoral nerve.
If the patient lies propped up on her elbows and flexes Neck extension and knee flexion would comprise a slider,
her head and the knee at the same time, this
is a tensioner along the femoral tract even though the
lumbar extension may slacken the system a Iittle,
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Femoral nerve > self ma nagement p26
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'Hurdler stretch'
Palpable areas
A Infraoatellar branches on the head of the tibia
B Main saphenous nerve between gracilis and
sartorius at the knee ioint
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Saphenous nerve > self management p32
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Palpable areas
A Upper arm
B Medial to the biceps tendon
C Indirectly at the carpal tunnel
This active quick test is an example of structural differentiation. If there are symptoms
on shoulder elevation that are made worse by either neck lateral flexion away from the
iest side and/or wrlst extension, then the clinical inference is that those symptoms are
from a neurogenic source, perhaps the median nerve and/or its roots. If the therapist
stabilises the shoulder, more refined testing is possible.
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Median nerve > therapist's assessment p35
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Median nerve > therapist's assessment p36
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Median nerve > therapist's assessment p37
ULNT1 Reversed This reversal of the ULNT1 is an example of using the order of movement principles.
Such a technique may be appropriate for a median nerve based problem such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Whole arm lateral rotation Block the shoulder girdle Careful shoulder abduction Add cervical flexion or
from elevating using the therapist's thigh lateral flexion
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Median nerve > therapist's assessment
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Median nerve > passive techniques p4r
ULNT2 Sli/ten
In the seated position, if the wrist
is flexed and the shoulder girdle
depressed, as in the image, this
comorises a slider movement.
ULNTl Sli/ten
When there is neurogenic Problem,
during the ULNTl test, the patient's
shoulder girdle will often protract,
thus avoiding some of the tension on
the nervous system. At the moment
of protraction, if wrist flexion is
added, then a slider will be
performed. This allows a gentle
mobilisation as well as a waY of
unlearning unuseful motor patterns.
Median nerve > passive techniques p42
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This is an example of Performing a Technique in more shoulder Note how further tension is Placed
joint mobilisation while the nerve is abduction. on the nerve, by asking the Patient
in some tension. There maY be a to extend her wrist.
stiff joint accessory movement which
can be mobilised while the nerve is
in some tension. Such a Patient
would have joint and neural tlssue
physical health issues.
Median nerve > self management > gentler movements p44
This series of genlle self mobilisation Balloon patting 'Watch the watch'
technicues uses functional and fun
movements and metaphors. 'Balloon
patting', 'watch the watch' (place watch *,,1
on ventral side of wrist) and using a
yoyo encourage the supination and
elbow extension Darts of the ULNT1.
Attempts at juggling provide a similar
nerve mobilisation.
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Median nerve > gentler movements p45
'No more dishes' and the ball throwing 'No more dishes' (after Barb Beatty)
progression are more aggressive
mobilisers, but still functional and fun,
Ball throwing can be progressed from
underhand to overhand throwing' "-
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Crawling is a strong functional median nerve mobiliser {- .--n
and note how balancing creates large range slider
movements similar to a ULNT2 for the median nerve.
For'free the bird'get the patient to imagine they are
holding a small bird and then to let it go. Now where is
that frisbee?
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Median nerve > stronger movements p47
Crawling
Balancing acts
Median nerve > stronger movements p4B
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Ulnar nerve > anatomy and palpation p49
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Ulnar nerve > active quick test ps0
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Ulnar nerve > therapist's assessment p51
Starting position - the Wrist and finger extension, Pronation Shoulder lateral rotation,
patient's elbow rests on the ensure 4th and 5th fingers ensuring wrist position is
therapist's hip are extended maintained
Elbow flexion Block shoulder girdle Shoulder girdle dePression Shoulder abduction; neck
elevation by pushing fist into if required lateral flexions can be
the bed =AAaA if ranrrirod
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Ulnar nerve > therapist's assessment
Forearm pronation
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Wrist and finger extension
In 1, a tensioner is Performed as the The patient's neck is extended as the With neck flexion, this rs a more
shoulder girdle is depressed while shoulder girdle is depressed, making aggressive tensioner technique'
the ulnar nerve is loaded. a siider technique.
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Ulnar nerve self management > gentler movements ps5
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These are examples of gentle functional
movement for the ulnar nerve and its
brain representations. The metaphors
orovide a distraction. Be creative.
Ufnar nerve > self management > stronger movements p56
'Plate exercise'
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Ulnar nerve > Self management > Stronger movements p57
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Radial nerve > anatomy and palpation p59
Palpable areas
A Mid humerus
B Radial sensory nerve on the lateral
aspect of the forearm
Ask the patient to let their arm hang by their side, then
make a fist holding their thumb, then extend the elbow,
then point the thumb away from the body (internal rotation)
and depress the shoulder. A few degrees of shoulder
extension may sensitise the test. Elevation of the shoulder
girdle provides an easy way to structurally differentiate.
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nerve > therapist's assessment p61
ULNT2 (radial)
The patient lies with their shoulder Elbow extension Notice how the therapist has brought
just over the side of the bed, the his left arm'around'to grasp the
therapist uses his thigh to carefully patient's wrist in order to medially
depress the shoulder girdle rotate the whole arm
Whole arm medial (internal) rotation Wrist and thumb flexion can be Adding a few degrees of shoulder
added. Leave the fingers out as the abduction will sensitise the test and
extensors will be too tight elevation of shoulder girdle will
provide structural differentiation
Radial nerve > therapist's assessment p62
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Radial nerve
In: ULNT2 (radial) Did: Rad head and soft tissue mobilisation
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'Pump water'
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Pumping water allows the
non-painful arm to help
guide mobilisation of the
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painful/injured arm. The
starting position encourages
internal rotation.
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Palpable areas
Difficult to palpate
ULNT (musculocutaneous) This position can also be used for passive mobilisation.
'Throw it away'
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Spine, cord and meninges > active quick test p74
In spinal flexion the meninges and spinal cord will be physically challenged. If low
back symptoms evoked by spinal flexion are made worse by the addition of neck
flexion this infers that there is a physical health problem of the nervous system.
Neck extension should relieve symptoms.
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Spine, cord and meninges > therapist's ASSCSSMCNT p76
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Spine, cord and meninges > therapist's ASSCSSMCNT p77
Bilateral SLR
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Spine, cord and meninges > therapist's assessment pB0
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Spine, cord and meninges > passive techniques
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The patient is in a SLS The therapist stabilises the Lateral flexion of the entire Structural d ifferentiation
position, This could be spine at the cervicothoracic cervical spine has been can be performed by
adapted as necessary, for j u nction , per-formed allowing a test of flexing the knee.
example pillows under the the physical health of upper
knees or more spinal thoracic neural structures,
flexion. This will frequently
produce relevant thoracic
and lumbar symptoms on
the convex side.
Spine, cord and meninges > passive techniques pB2
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of
This is an example of a refined technique for entrapment
the thoracic postertor prlmary
the cutaneous branches of
rami. The syndrome is called notalgia paraesthetica'
Tender spots, even nodules, may be palpated where these
nerves exit the muscles and fascia to become cutaneous'
position'
These will be more tender in the Slump Long Sit
less so if the neck is extended. Frequently the nerve
will
be more reactive if massaged laterally along the lateral
branch, rather than medially. This may be an appropriate
technique for some Patients.
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Spine, cord and meninges > passive techniques pB6
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Spine, cord and meninges > therapist's assessment p87
SLR/neck SIi/ten
'Wring' technique
This technique is named after the action of wringing out a wet towel. With the knees flexed and rolling from side to
side (2), a gentle wringing effect is placed on the spinal cord. lf the patient turns their neck away at the same time
(3), a more aggressive wringing is provided, and if the chin is tucked in (4), even more load can be applied. By using
the arms and depressing the shoulder girdle (5), even more load can be placed on the nervous system.
Spine, cord and meninges > self ma nagement p90
stronger techniques
The SLS position offers a safe and supported starting position for self mobilisation.
In the images, a slider is being performed. As the patient extends her knee, she shrugs
her shoulders. This may be a useful slider when the neck is sore. In this positlon there
are many combinations of sliders and tensioners. For example, if the knee is extended
at the same time as the neck is extended, this creates a slider movement.
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Spine, cord and meninges > self management p92
> stronger techniques
'Wall walking'
Images 4,5 and 6: Notice how the patient moves closer to the wall to achieve more Straight Leg Raise.
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Spine, cord and meninges > self management p93
stronger techniques
'Total slump'
Bob Johnson technique
Two vigorous mobilisations
are snown nere.
Notice how the standing
total slump uses order of
movement principles to
load cervical and cranial
meninges first.
'Roll over'
In the roll over Position
for the appropriate
patient and problem,
further mobilisation can
be performed by leg
movements.
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Other nerves > Accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI) p94
Trigeminal nerve
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to the right
Other nerves > Ocei*ita! nerve p9B
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