Effect of Sciatic Nerve Mobilization on Lower Extremity Pain Perception

The Effect of Sciatic Nerve Mobilization on Pain Perception in Lower Extremity Peripheral Nerves

This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effect of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain perception in lower extremity peripheral nerves, specifically the tibial and common peroneal nerves. The study will be conducted in university students at Fenerbahçe University. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.

Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be measured using a pressure algometer at standardized anatomical points over the tibial and common peroneal nerves before and after the intervention period. Demographic and clinical information, including age, sex, height, weight, dominant lower extremity, physical activity level, history of lower extremity injury or surgery, neurological or systemic disease, and regular medication use, will also be recorded.

Participants in the intervention group will receive a standardized sciatic nerve mobilization protocol consisting of sliding-type neurodynamic mobilization performed in the supine position, including components of hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion in a rhythmic sequence. No intervention will be applied to the control group. The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether sciatic nerve mobilization changes pressure pain threshold values in the tibial and common peroneal nerves compared with no intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Sciatic Nerve; Lower Extremity Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sciatic Nerve Mobilization

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled pilot study aims to investigate the effect of sciatic nerve mobilization on pain perception in lower extremity peripheral nerves, specifically the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve, in healthy university students. The study will be conducted at Fenerbahçe University.

A total of 34 participants will be included. Eligible participants will be students aged 18 to 30 years at Fenerbahçe University who voluntarily agree to participate and meet the study eligibility criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group.

Pain perception will be assessed using pressure pain threshold measurements obtained with a pressure algometer at standardized anatomical points over the tibial and common peroneal nerves. Measurements will be performed before and after the study procedure using the same protocol for all participants.

Participants in the intervention group will receive a standardized sliding-type sciatic nerve mobilization protocol performed in the supine position. The mobilization includes coordinated movements of hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion to create a sliding effect on the sciatic nerve. The control group will not receive any intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ataşehir
    • Istanbul, Ataşehir, Turkey (Türkiye), 34758
      • Fenerbahçe University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 to 30 years
• Being a student at Fenerbahçe University
• No history of major trauma or surgery in the lower extremity within the last 6 months
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of neurological disease
• History of lower extremity peripheral nerve injury
• Having undergone lower extremity surgery within the last 6 months
• Regular use of analgesic or muscle relaxant medications
• Pregnancy
• Presence of any systemic disease that may interfere with the assessment or intervention procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sciatic Nerve Mobilization Group; Participants in this group will receive a standardized sliding-type sciatic nerve mobilization. Pressure pain threshold of the tibial and common peroneal nerves will be measured before and after the intervention.	Other: Sciatic Nerve Mobilization; A standardized sliding-type sciatic nerve mobilization will be applied in the supine position. The technique includes coordinated hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion movements to produce a sliding effect on the sciatic nerve.
No Intervention: Control Group; Participants in this group will receive no intervention. Pressure pain threshold of the tibial and common peroneal nerves will be measured before and after the study procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pressure Pain Threshold of the Tibial Nerve	Pressure pain threshold of the tibial nerve will be assessed using a pressure algometer at a standardized anatomical point in the popliteal fossa. The algometer probe will be placed perpendicular to the skin, and pressure will be gradually increased until the participant first reports pain. The recorded value will be used as the pressure pain threshold.	Before intervention and immediately after intervention
Pressure Pain Threshold of the Common Peroneal Nerve	Pressure pain threshold of the common peroneal nerve will be assessed using a pressure algometer at a standardized anatomical point around the fibular head/neck region. The algometer probe will be placed perpendicular to the skin, and pressure will be gradually increased until the participant first reports pain. The recorded value will be used as the pressure pain threshold.	Before intervention and immediately after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fenerbahce University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sümeyye Akçay, Asst. Prof., Fenerbahçe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neurodynamic mobilization; Pressure pain threshold; Sciatic nerve mobilization; Peripheral nerve mechanosensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: FenerbahceUniver

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study involves a small sample from a single university population, and data sharing could increase the risk of participant identification.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No