Spinal Mobilization With Leg Movement Versus Neurodynamic Mobilization in Lumbar Radiculopathy

April 6, 2026 updated by: Deraya University

Effectiveness of Spinal Mobilization With Leg Movement Versus Neurodynamic Mobilization in Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Low back pain with lumbar radiculopathy is a common condition that significantly affects functional ability and quality of life. Manual therapy is widely used as a first-line treatment to reduce pain and improve mobility.

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) and neurodynamic mobilization in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. A total of 20 participants were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received SMWLM, while the other group received neurodynamic mobilization of the sciatic nerve over a treatment period of six weeks.

Outcomes included pain intensity, quality of life, and hip range of motion. The results of this study aim to identify the more effective intervention for improving clinical outcomes in patients with lumbar radiculopathy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Lumbar radiculopathy is a condition characterized by low back pain radiating to the lower limb due to nerve root compression or irritation. It is associated with functional limitations, reduced mobility, and decreased quality of life.

Spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM), based on the Mulligan concept, combines sustained accessory joint mobilization with active or passive limb movement. This technique aims to restore normal joint mechanics, improve spinal mobility, and reduce nerve root compression by increasing intervertebral foramen space.

Neurodynamic mobilization focuses on restoring the normal mobility and physiology of the nervous system. It involves controlled movements that mobilize neural tissues and surrounding structures, helping to reduce neural tension and improve circulation.

This randomized controlled trial compares the effectiveness of SMWLM and neurodynamic mobilization in patients with lumbar radiculopathy. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups and received treatment three times per week for six weeks.

Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and hip range of motion measured by a universal goniometer.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence-based guidance for physiotherapists in selecting optimal treatment strategies for lumbar radiculopathy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Menia Governorate
      • Minya, Menia Governorate, Egypt
        • Deraya university, faculty of physical therapy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 25 and 50 years
  • Male and female participants
  • Clinically diagnosed low back pain with lumbar radiculopathy for at least 3 months
  • Symptoms radiating below the knee along the sciatic nerve distribution

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of lumbar spine surgery or laminectomy
  • Spinal fractures, tumors, or inflammatory disorders
  • Acute disc prolapse or lumbar instability
  • Lower limb vascular disease
  • Neurological disorders
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Manual therapy within the last 6 months
  • Hip pathology or hamstring tightness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Spinal Mobilization With Leg Movement Group
Participants in this group received spinal mobilization with leg movement (SMWLM) based on the Mulligan concept to improve spinal mobility, reduce pain, and enhance functional performance.
Other: Spinal Mobilization With Leg Movement
This intervention involves applying sustained accessory spinal mobilization combined with active or passive leg movement to improve joint mechanics, reduce nerve compression, and enhance mobility.
Experimental: Neurodynamic Mobilization Group
Participants in this group received neurodynamic mobilization targeting the sciatic nerve to improve neural mobility and reduce pain associated with lumbar radiculopathy.
Other: Neurodynamic Mobilization
Neurodynamic mobilization techniques were applied to mobilize the sciatic nerve and surrounding tissues to restore neural function, reduce tension, and improve mobility.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity (Visual Analogue Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment
Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain, and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment
Functional Disability (Oswestry Disability Index)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment
Functional disability was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), which evaluates limitations in daily activities due to low back pain.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hip Range of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hip range of motion was measured using a universal goniometer to assess improvements in joint mobility.
Baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Deraya University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 10, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 31, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 6, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • DU-FPT-LR-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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