Effectiveness of neural tissue mobilization and abdominal isometric exercises on function and disability in patients with sciatica

Introduction: Sciatica is a disorder involving irritation of sciatic nerve due to disc herniation. The physiotherapy approaches for the treatment of sciatica is ice, rest, electrotherapy and exercise therapy, but evidences regarding their individual effectiveness are lacking. The purpose of the study was to determine, if Neural tissue mobilization along wih Abdominal isometric exercise brings better improvement in pain or functional disability than Abdominal isometric exercise alone. Methodology: The study was conducted on 30 female patients with posterolateral disc herniated sciatica treated in a physiotherapy department. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, Group A (n = 15) (Control group) received 4 weeks physiotherapy program including Abdominal isometric exercise. Group B (n=15) (experimental group) received 4 weeks rehabilitation program including Neural tissue mobilization along with Abdominal isometric exercise. Result: At the beginning, both the groups were not significantly different in terms of score. After therapy, there was statistically significant improvement between groups in RDQ scores [Group A 15.73±2.25; Group B 10.67±1.45]. Conclusion: The study result reveal that Neural tissue mobilization along with Abdominal isometric exercise showed better RDQ scores as compared to subjects treated with Abdominal isometric exercise alone.