Effects of Neurodynamic Treatment on Hamstrings Flexibility: A systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective: To provide detailed information on the effectiveness of neurodynamic treatment on hamstrings flexibility.

Methods: Systematic review in the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Articles were included if the intervention followed a neurodynamic treatment and the study was a randomized clinical trial including at least one measurement related to hamstrings flexibility. Articles were independently screened for inclusion and data were extracted by two researchers. It was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42015020707).

Results: Finally, 6 articles (n = 294 participants) were included. Neurodynamic treatment was compared with no treatment, placebo, and with other manual therapy techniques such as active and passive stretching, muscle inhibition and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Meta-analysis shows benefits of neurodynamic treatment for knee-extension range of motion (1 trials compared with no intervention, MD = -2.23, 95% CI = -3.02 to -1.44, and 4 trials compared to other techniques, MD = -0.40, 95% CI = -1.09 to 0.29, I = 81.55%) and passive straight leg raise test measures (2 trials compared with no intervention, MD = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.78 to 2.74, I = 0%, and 3 trials compared with other techniques MD = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.78 to 2.74, I = 0%).

Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis shows the effectiveness of neurodynamic treatment on hamstrings flexibility compared with no intervention and other techniques.