The Comparative Effects of Butler’s Neural Tissue Mobilization and Mulligan’s Bent Leg Raise in Patients with Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcomes of Mulligan leg lift and Butler neural tissue mobilization in individuals with persistent lumbar radiculopathy.

Methodology: It was a randomized control trial study with non-purposive sampling. 62 participants who visited the physiotherapy department were evaluated and screened for chronic lumber radiculopathy. These patients were randomly assigned to two groups, A and B, using a computer-generated algorithm. Prior to including them in the study, take into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained from them in writing, whether they were willing to participate or not. Both groups received the same conventional therapy throughout the study. Group A patients were treated with the Butler neural mobilization technique, while Group B patients were treated with bent leg mobilization Technique.

Results: According to the NPRS results, group A means and standard deviations after treatment were 4.34±0.48, functional disability was 18.89±2.16, lumber flexion was 31.3±3.54, extension was 8.48±8.71, SLR was 62.41±3.92 and Schober test was 9.31±0.80. In group B, the mean and standard deviation of the NPRS were 2.46±5.0, the functional disability was 9.28±2.90, the lumber flexion was 45.71±3.52, the lumber extension was 13.14±1.95, the SLR was 83.35±2.07, and the Schober test was 13.6±1.38 with p-value 0.00, which was less than p 0.05.

Conclusion: Both techniques were effective for lumber radiculopathy but bent leg mobilization was more effective than Beutler neural mobilization.

Keywords: SLR, NPRS lumber radiculopathy, Schober test, Butler neural mobilization