Short-term effect of neural mobility technique in people with chronic low back pain: A quasi-experimental study

Background & Aim: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal condition and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Conservative management frequently involves physiotherapy-based interventions. This study aims to identify the short-term effects of the Slump neural mobilization slide technique on pain, neurological symptoms, and lumbar mobility in individuals with CLBP.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a convenience sample of 30 adults with CLBP currently undergoing physiotherapy. Pain intensity (NPRS): standing, sitting, and during the Modified Schober Test, neurological symptoms (DN4), and lumbar range of motion (Modified Schober Test) were assessed immediately before and after the intervention. Non-parametric analyses (Wilcoxon test) were performed with a 95% confidence interval. Effect sizes (r) were estimated from reported p-values.
Results: Statistically significant short-term improvements were observed in all outcomes following the intervention. Pain decreased in standing (p<0.01; r=0.47), sitting (p<0.001; r=0.60), and during the Modified Schober Test (p<0.01; r=0.50). Lumbar mobility improved significantly (p<0.01; r=0.55), and DN4 scores decreased (p<0.01; r=0.40), indicating moderate to large effects. Improvements were consistent across different Slump technique components.
Conclusions & Recommendations: The Slump slide technique appears to produce favourable immediate effects on pain, lumbar mobility, and neurological symptoms in individuals with CLBP. These findings suggest that neurodynamic interventions may support symptom modulation in patients presenting with altered neural mechanosensitivity. This study used a small convenience sample, lacked a control group, and evaluated only immediate effects, limiting causal interpretation and generalisability. Nevertheless, the results indicate that neural mobilisation may be considered as an adjunct to evidence-based physiotherapy interventions in individuals with neurodynamic impairments. Further controlled studies with larger samples and long-term follow-up are required to determine clinical efficacy, durability of effects, and its potential integration into CLBP management guidelines.