Nerve Glides / Neurodynamics
A popular treatment for common injuries such as sciatica and carpal tunnel syndrome has become something physical therapists refer to as “nerve glides”. It has been shown to be an effective treatment showing good results for most injuries where there is a nerve component. However, a lot of people don’t know what a nerve glide actually is and just think of it as a stretch for your nerves. Hopefully, after you read this you will come away with a better understanding of what a nerve glide is and how you can use it for a better quality of living.
Anatomy and background of nerve glides?
A nerve glide is defined as an exercise that facilitates the smooth and regular movement of peripheral nerves in the body. Now in the body, we have the two main categories of the nervous system. We have the central nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord and we have the peripheral nerves which are the branches that come off the spinal cord and go into our arms, legs, trunk, etc.
When we sustain an injury, more times than not there is inflammation (swelling) associated with the injured area. This inflammation is common as it is the body’s natural response to injury, bringing nutrients to help heal whatever area is injured. However, this inflammation also affects the way our body moves (think of stiffness in your ankle after you sprain it) and will create a barrier for how your nerves move and send signals to the rest of the body. This is why sometimes when we injure the back (i.e. a bulging disc) we feel pain down the leg known as sciatica. The idea with nerve glides is that if we do them they will restore some of that blocked movement nerves get due to swelling in the body.
So what is a nerve glide?
Good question. A nerve glide is defined as an exercise that facilitates the smooth and regular movement of the peripheral nerves in the body (according to wikipedia). A nerve glide is meant to be an exercise that 1) allows the irritated nerve tissue to regain some regular movement and 2) hopefully decrease pain and symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain. There are also a couple different types of nerve glides that you may see such as “lengtheners” and “tensioners”.
Should everyone do nerve glides?
To a certain extent, most people can benefit from doing a daily nerve glide routine whether they are experiencing pain or not. The idea is that with how sedentary most people’s lives are now that lack of movement leads to a lack of blood circulation throughout the body. If someone is too sedentary they may experience symptoms such as numbness or tingling down an arm/leg which is really the body’s way of saying you need to get up a move more.
Nerve glides accomplish this as they are meant to move the nerve in such a way that it gets more blood flow and therefore is happier. At the end of the day, a happy nerve has 3 things: 1) movement 2) space 3) blood flow. Along with “healthy” individuals you can also benefit from nerve glides if you currently have an injury. The most common injuries treated with nerve glides are sciatic pain and also carpal tunnel syndrome. However, there are many other injuries that can benefit from nerve glides including cervical (neck) disc injuries and cubital tunnel syndrome (the funny bone).
What’s the take-home message?
The take-home message is that everyone can benefit from doing nerve glides whether you are currently in pain or not. The more sedentary you are the higher chance you get of developing some sort of nerve irritation and nerve glides can limit that risk. Inflammation is usually what irritates the nerve. Doing a nerve glide can help regain some of that blocked movement nerves need and make them “happier”. Remember, nerves need movement, space, and blood to be happy and healthy. If you are curious which nerve glides best suit you then you should reach out to a physical therapist and get a proper evaluation. Dosages and types of nerve glides differ from person to person so it is best to get some professional opinions before starting.
Take that first step towards having a stronger life and reach out to the experts at iMove PT. You can book online or over the phone by calling (636) 893-8312. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at info@imovephysicaltherapy.com.
By: Dr. Danny Crenshaw, PT, DPT, CSMT