The Comparative Study of Sciatic Vs Femoral Nerve Mobilization Along With Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a multi-dimensional musculoskeletal condition resulting in discomfort and functional limitation, arising from lower lumbar region radiating towards posterior lower limb or anterior thigh, often resulting from numerous factors like mechanical, degenerative, neuropathic, inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic and psychological factors. One of the most prevalent association of low back pain is nerve irritation and poor neuromuscular coordination. According to nerve pathway and innervation pattern, the main constituents of lumbosacral plexus are sciatic and femoral nerves. Sciatic nerve arises from L4-S3 spinal nerve roots passing through the gluteal region and down the posterior thigh innervating hamstrings, gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, fibularis longus and brevis. Whereas, femoral nerve originates from L2-L4 and supply along the anterior region of thigh musculature like quadriceps femoris, sartorius, pectineus.

Normal nerve function, reduced mechanical sensitivity, and relief of radiating symptoms are the main goals of neural mobilization. Complementary to this, there are numerous studies which shows the effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation that reduces pain by maximizes neuromuscular control and activation, facilitates blood circulation and prevents muscular atrophy in low back pain patients.

According to study conducted in 2022 by Romero-Morales and colleagues in Spain, neural mobilization has great effect in management of pain and disability in musculoskeletal disorders. Another study done in Japan in 2023 has describe the efficacy of Neural Mobilization on Pain, Mobility, and Psychosocial Functioning of Patients.

Peripherally neural mobilization increases nerve conductivity and physiologically it changes central sensitization. With an eye towards maximizing functional recovery and pain relief, this comparative study evaluates the combined effects of nerve mobilization and Electrical Stimulation in treatment of Low Back Pain, which has emerging evidence from a study which is published in the journal of pain, USA in 2002 that explains the efficacy of Electrical stimulation with combined therapy .

Another number of studies has also been done explaining the effect of neural mobilization on low back pain one of which is published in Pakistan journal of medical and health sciences in 2022 concluding that sciatic nerve mobilization is an effective treatment for pain and disability in patients.