Neurodynamic Testing and Nerve Flossing

Impeded Nerve Tissue

Nerve tissues are attached at the origin of the nerve within the spinal column, as well as at the end where they glide through muscles and other adhesive tissues.  They need to move freely without impediment.  If neural tissue is impeded, restriction of nerve movement results in pain and limited range of motion.

Examples of nerve entrapment result in:

• Sciatica
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Pinched Nerve (resulting in neck pain)
• Back pain (from bulging disc/herniated disc)

What is Neurodynamic Testing?

Neurodynamic Testing is a technique to assess the mobility of the nerves as they wind through muscle and tissue as well as the spine and extra-spinal structures.  It is meant to diagnose restrictions and resistances often described as “interfaces.”  When adhesion is present, the inhibited glide of the nerve can be revealed.

Dr. Silverman has extensive experience in neurodynamic testing and nerve treatment, both as a practitioner and as a national lecturer for the medical community.

Nerve Flossing Exercises

Nerve Flossing refers to techniques and exercises that help to restore motion between a nerve and its surrounding soft tissues.  These exercises play an integral role in nerve recovery.  Dr. Silverman commonly prescribes a series of nerve flossing exercises as part of his integrated approach to help resolve a patient’s condition.

What is Nerve Entrapment

Most patients think of nerves as individual structures that work to relay information back and forth from our brain and spinal cord to all of our muscles, joints, organs, and soft-tissue structures. However, most people do not realize that our nerves are continuous with our spinal cord and brain.

Every movement we make requires our nerves to glide through their surrounding soft tissues, to stretch slightly and to remain under constant tension throughout our daily activities. When a nerve becomes “trapped” or “pinched” within its surrounding soft tissues, we refer to this as a nerve entrapment or entrapment neuropathy.

What are the Symptoms of Nerve Entrapment?

Entrapped nerves typically manifest with: pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness along the path of the affected nerve.

Nerve entrapments can occur under a variety of circumstances. Some nerve entrapments are mechanical in nature due to compressive forces, while others are due to irritation of a nerve from repetitive actions, or from the pressures caused by inflammation of surrounding soft tissues.

How to Nerve Floss

Nerve flossing exercises (combined with other protocols) can help you resolve chronic, painful conditions that have not responded to conventional therapy.  Sciatica is an example of a “pinched nerve”.  Nerve flossing helps pull the nerve to free it from entrapment and adhesion.  The goal is to pull one end of the nerve while relaxing the other end of the nerve.  Nerve flossing exercises for sciatic nerve pain are performed by pretending there is a string from your toe to your forehead.

1. Flex cervical spine
2. Creates a pull on the spinal cord from the cranial end, and a release from the caudal end
3. Add slight leg flexion

Neurodynamic Test - Median Nerve

1. Extend the cervical spine with simultaneous knee extension
2. This pulls the nerve from the caudal end with a corresponding release at the cranial end

Neurodynamic Test

1. Ulnar Nerve
2. Lower Extremity