Der Einfluss von Nacken- und Kniebewegungen auf die longitudinale Gleitbewegung des N. femoralis in der Leiste – eine Pilotstudie

The nervous system has the natural ability to be moved passively and to withstand the mechanical forces acting on it during everyday movements. To ensure this, nerves can move in relation to, among other things, the surrounding tissue. A longitudinal sliding movement is frequently observed. If the nerve tissue can no longer move to its physiological extent, this can lead to discomfort and symptoms in the affected area. In everyday clinical practice, neurodynamic tests such as the femoral slump test (FST) are used to test nerves for mechanical stress. If the symptoms are reproduced and altered via a sensitizing movement, an increased neural mechanosensitivity is assumed. In our study, the longitudinal mobility of the femoral nerve was analyzed using sonography. The main aim of this analysis was to determine the extent to which the nerve moves under physiological stress.

The study comprised 21 participants. The nerve mobility of the Femoral nerve mobility was to be determined during physiological movements (knee flexion, cervical spine flexion/extension, or a combination of both movements). The longitudinal range of motion was analyzed and determined using A. Dilley’s cross correlation software. The movements were performed in accordance with the FST.

The study shows that physiological movements result in a longitudinal range of motion of the femoral nerve. For example, during knee flexion the nerve has a longitudinal range of motion of between 3.80 mm and 5.43 mm.

There is longitudinal movement of the femoral nerve during physiological movements. Further studies are needed to confirm the results by including patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome in the study and comparing the range of motion between the groups.