A STUDY ON USE OF NEURODYNAMIC TESTS AMONG NEUROREHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Purpose: Neurodynamic tests are a combination of passive movements of the body and limbs performed by a therapist to stimulate mechanical movement of nerve tissue to assess their mobility and sensitivity to mechanical stress. The paper presents a study conducted among rehabilitation professionals in the area of neurorehabilitation. The aim of the study is to explore how known to the respondents the neurodynamics tests are. Methods: The study includes 21 practicing physiotherapists and rehabilitators from University hospital and Rehabilitation hospital Medika – Ruse, University hospital Kanev - Ruse and University hospital St. Marina - Varna. Study participants were asked about feedback on neurodynamic tests and their use for functional diagnosis and treatment of peripheral nerves by a questionnaire. Results: Neurodynamic tests are well known among working physiotherapists and rehabilitators in Bulgaria. The best known are the Lasegue test, Passive neck flexion and Passive knee flexion tests, which leads to their wider use in practice, both for diagnosis and for treatment. The most unknown and least used are upper limb tests. Conclusions: Although neurodynamic tests assess the subjective sensation of the patient, they depend on the reliability and experience of the therapist. A large number of specialists in Bulgaria do not know them and, as a result, they are not widespread and implemented in practice. Another reason for their lack of recognition is the lack of a unified specialized terminology in Bulgaria and globally.

Keywords

• neurorehabilitation
• neurodynamic tests