Publication
Femoral nerve excursion with knee and neck movements in supine, sitting and side-lying slump: An in vivo study using ultrasound imaging
Publisher:
Elsevier BV
Date:
10-2018
DOI:
10.1016/J.MSKSP.2018.06.007
Abstract: Neurodynamic assessment and management are advocated for femoral nerve pathology. Contrary to neurodynamic techniques for other nerves, there is limited research that quantifies femoral nerve biomechanics. To quantify longitudinal and transverse excursion of the femoral nerve during knee and neck movements. Single-group, experimental study, with within-participant comparisons. High-resolution ultrasound recordings of the femoral nerve were made in the proximal thigh/groin region in 30 asymptomatic participants. Scans were made during knee flexion in supine and a semi-seated position, and during neck flexion in side-lying slump (Slump Longitudinal and transverse excursion measurements were reliable (ICC≥0.87). With knee flexion, longitudinal femoral nerve excursion was significant and larger in supine than in sitting (supine (mean (SD)): 3.6 (2.0) mm p < 0.001 sitting: 1.1 (1.6) mm p = 0.001 comparison: p = 0.001). There was also excursion in a medial direction (supine: 1.4 (0.3) mm p < 0.001 sitting: 0.7 (0.6) mm p < 0.001) and anterior direction (supine: 0.2 (0.2) mm p < 0.001 sitting: 0.1 (0.2) mm p = 0.06). Neck flexion in Slump Although the femoral nerve terminates proximal to the knee, femoral nerve excursion in the proximal thigh occurred with knee flexion Neck flexion in Slump