Comparative Effects of the Neurodynamic Slider and Tensioner Mobilisation Techniques on Sympathetic Nervous System Function: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Condition: Health Care Acceptor
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      In accordance with an independently matched group design methodology, 90 healthy volunteers
      (aged 18 to 40) were enlisted and randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups
      (sliding, tension, or control groups). The participants' group assignment was concealed from
      them. Using the Biopac MP36 electrodermal amplifier, constant skin conductors (SC) levels
      were captured for 20 minutes. A blind data collector used the Biopac software to gather the
      data. A pre and post-treatment measurement was taken with the thermal-camera and an
      ambulatory blood pressure monitor.
    

Detailed description: 
      Ninety healthy volunteer participants were randomly allocated to three groups (sliding
      neurodynamic techniques (NDT), tension NDT, and control) using the hypothetico-deductive
      method of theory testing that allows the comparison within the variables. Additionally, a
      double-blind experimental research strategy was used in this study. The study's participants
      were not informed on their allocation to the groups in an effort to reduce the likelihood of
      expectation bias. It is crucial to note that the researcher maintained his or her blindness
      throughout the data selection process in order to safeguard the study's internal validity.
      Two people carried out the experiment in order to accomplish this: the "therapist" who
      applied the NDT and the "data collector" in charge of documenting the outcomes of the
      intervention.

      Any changes in the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) were noted and recorded using three
      valuable outcome measure tools: the Biopac Galvanic skin response 100B electrodermal activity
      amplifier (MP36 Biopac Systems Incorporation), a thermo-camera © and an ambulatory blood
      pressure monitor.

      The practical room was set up during the experiment so that neither the therapist nor the
      subjects came in contact with the apparatus. In order to ensure blinding from the results as
      the experiment was running, the plinth (treatment area) was separated from the data
      collection table with the computer and equipment (Biopac, blood pressure monitor,
      environmental thermometer, and thermo-camera) by a screen. Only the data collector has access
      to the Biopac software, blood pressure monitor, environmental thermometer, and thermo-camera
      in order to blind the therapist to the results of the experiment completely. Throughout the
      whole experiment, the therapist stayed hidden behind the screen.

      The therapist begins standardising the equipment when the subjects are seated on the plinth.
      The thermo-camera has to be positioned correctly, pointing at the participant's hold body in
      the first stage. Second, the therapist placed the blood pressure monitor's cuff on the
      participant's left arm. The ideal placement of the skin electrodes was the next step. Each
      participant's second and third toes on both legs received skin electrodes. When the
      participant finally assumed their position, the therapist asked the data collector to quickly
      verify SC activity using the thermo-camera, ambulatory blood pressure monitor, and graph
      readings from the Biopac acquisition programme.

      The experiment comprised three phases: (1) Pre-Intervention Phase, (2) Intervention Phase,
      and (3) Post-Intervention Phase. The experiment started with an 8-minute stabilisation phase
      aiming to achieve a physiological resting state, followed by the baseline recording period,
      which lasted 2 minutes. During this phase, the therapist took the body temperature and the
      blood pressure of each participant, using the blood pressure monitor and the thermo-camera ©.
      Following, three phases of 1-minute interventions were applied on the 'intervention leg',
      each separated by a 1-minute rest period. Finally, the experiment concluded with a 5-minute
      resting period. The SC was recorded through the Biopac software the whole time, and the whole
      experiment lasted 20 minutes. Throughout the experiment, the data collector indicated the
      time frame for each phase with the verbal cue 'Intervention Phase 1 or 2 or 3'.

      Moreover, the data collector placed markers on the Biopac graph to demonstrate the start and
      end of each intervention phase. Finally, when the experiment passed into the
      Post-Intervention Phase, the therapist took the body temperature and the blood pressure from
      each participant. It must be noted that NDT manoeuvres during the experiment were performed
      on the participants as described by Shacklock (2005).
    

Intervention name(s): Neurodynamic
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Neurodynamic Slider and Tensioner Technique
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Neurodynamic; Neuromobilisation; Tensioner Neurodynamic Technique; Slider Neurodynamic Technique; Slump Test