Assessing Adverse Neural Tension in Athletes

Abstract

Sports medicine assessment and treatment techniques are ever developing and becoming more holistic. Traditional musculoskeletal assessment is changing to incorporate neural tissue pathology. Neural tension tests assess the mobility of neural tissue in the extremities and spinal canal. Positive adverse neural tension tests suggest poor mobility of neural tissue. Athletes with adverse neural tension often present with pain and decreased range of motion. These disorders can occur individually or can be associated with sports injuries. Ankle sprains, hamstring strains, tennis elbow, and thoracic outlet syndrome are some conditions that respond well to treatment of adverse neural tension. Reports of improved treatment outcomes following neural tension assessment and treatment suggest that adverse neural tension should be considered as a possible source of pain and dysfunction. This paper outlines concepts necessary to understand adverse neural tension including neuroanatomy, pathology, assessment techniques, and common sports injuries that may have an adverse neural tension component.