Mechanical neural dysfunction workshop

Pramod showing various treatment approaches to neural dysfunction

A workshop on mechanical neural dysfunction held at Sungai Long Campus on 14 to 15 May 2016 aimed to bridge the gaps in physiotherapy practices that may exist and provide the most updated information and skills to students and practitioners.

“Neural mobilisation is a technique that physiotherapists utilise to treat nerves that may be adhered, irritated, or compressed,”said Department of Physiotherapy Head Pramod Divakara Shenoy.

“Many patients that have been unresponsive to other physical therapy and come present with a history of chronic referred symptoms like pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms or legs may respond to Neural Mobilisation,” he continued.

Every patient with referred symptoms or pain that has been unresponsive to localised treatment receives a complete neural tension evaluation. Neural tension testing is a way to determine the extent of nerve involvement. 

Parai giving a demonstration on various treatments

“By mobilising a nerve, physiotherapists can determine, in combination with other manoeuvres, whether the pain originates from the spine or the periphery. Physiotherapists can then perform Neural Mobilisation techniques utilising controlled neural tension manoeuvres to mobilise the nerve,” said Physiotherapy lecturer Manisha Parai.

“Physical Therapist David Butler proposed that neural mobilisation or neurodynamics could accelerate nerve healing and quiet down what he calls an altered impulse generating system (AIGs). These AIGs may respond to the oscillations of neural mobilisation by enhancing circulatory exchange or ion transfer in and around the nerve,” she continued.

Participants putting their new skills to practice

“Many physiotherapists treat a joint, muscle, or fascia, yet forget it is connected to the nervous system. However, physiotherapy has been evolving continuously so much so that in the present day physiotherapists have a neuro-orthopaedic approach to patients rather than limiting their practices to the separate fields of orthopaedics or neurology,” said Pramod.