Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesUpper Extremity Nerve GlidesSciatic Nerve GlidesThoracic Nerve GlidesGeneral GuidelinesHow Long It Takes to Work
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
Upper Extremity Nerve Glides
Sciatic Nerve Glides
Thoracic Nerve Glides
General Guidelines
How Long It Takes to Work
Nerve gliding, also called nerve flossing or stretching, is an exercise technique used inphysical therapythat stretches nerves to improve nerve movement and reduce pain. Nerve gliding exercises can help you recover from conditions that cause nerve tightness or compression in the upper or lower extremities as well as the lower back and chest areas.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
Why Nerve Gliding Is Prescribed
Yourphysical therapist (PT)may prescribe nerve flossing exercises if nerve tension or tightness is contributing to pain and/or the loss ofrange of motionof a joint.
Nerve gliding exercises are used to enable smooth movement ofperipheral nerves. These are the nerves that extend from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The exercises help peripheral nerves move freely without impediment as a joint or muscle is extended or flexed.
Conditions for which nerve gliding exercises may be recommended include:
If you are having nerve pain in your arm or hands, your PT may recommend the following upper extremity nerve gliding exercises:
Median Nerve Glide #1
To floss the median nerve (which helps you bend the wrist and fingers):
Median Nerve Glide #2
This more advanced exercise is performed as follows:
Median nerve glides are especially useful if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Ulnar Nerve Glide #1
To floss the ulnar nerve (which also helps bend your wrist and move your fingers from side to side):
Ulnar Nerve Glide #2
Radial Nerve Glide #1
To floss theradial nerve(which helps you straighten the elbow, wrist, thumb, and fingers):
Radial Nerve Glide #2
Nerve glides for the lower extremities are focused on improving the movement of the sciatic nerve. There are several that can help in different ways:
Supine Sciatic Nerve Glide
To perform the supine sciatic nerve glide:
Sitting Sciatic Nerve Glide
To perform the sitting sciatic nerve glide:
Standing Sciatic Nerve Glide
The standing sciatic nerve glide is aMcKenzie Methodexercise that can be used to stretch the sciatic nerve more intensely. To do it:
Mobilizing Nerve Glide
Hamstring Nerve Glide
Unless hamstrings are regularly stretched, they can become tight and lead to piriformis syndrome. The following standing exercise can help remedy this:
Piriformis Stretch
The exercise directly targets the piriformis muscle where sciatic nerve pain is acutely felt. To do this:
Although much of the focus of nerve glides is placed on sciatica or conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, they can also be used when you have thoracic outlet syndrome (a condition involving thebrachial plexusnerves that originate at the neck).
Brachial Plexus Nerve Glide #1
This exercise focuses on nerve pain that travels from the neck to the armpit. To do this:
Brachial Plexus Nerve Glide #2
This exercise also helps release the brachial plexus nerves with a series of lateral stretches and rotations. To do this:
Nerve Gliding Safety Guidelines
Before trying any nerve gliding exercise, it’s important to check in with your healthcare provider or PT who can recommend exercises specific to your condition.
To ensure safety, there are four rules to remember when embarking on any nerve gliding exercise:
Nerve flossing may cause slight tingling or aching, but this should subside within a few minutes. If the pain or tingling is extreme or persists, you may be doing the movements too aggressively. Give it a rest for several days, and speak with your PT to see if there are any adjustments you can make.
Can Nerve Flossing Make Sciatica Worse?In the same way that piriformis muscle spasms trigger sciatic pain, overly aggressive muscle contractions can compress the sciatic nerve and also cause pain. Doing too much too soon can also cause inflammation that directly irritates the sciatic nerve.To avoid this, perform the exercises with control and try not to overdo it. With nerve flossing, less is sometimes more.
Can Nerve Flossing Make Sciatica Worse?
In the same way that piriformis muscle spasms trigger sciatic pain, overly aggressive muscle contractions can compress the sciatic nerve and also cause pain. Doing too much too soon can also cause inflammation that directly irritates the sciatic nerve.To avoid this, perform the exercises with control and try not to overdo it. With nerve flossing, less is sometimes more.
In the same way that piriformis muscle spasms trigger sciatic pain, overly aggressive muscle contractions can compress the sciatic nerve and also cause pain. Doing too much too soon can also cause inflammation that directly irritates the sciatic nerve.
To avoid this, perform the exercises with control and try not to overdo it. With nerve flossing, less is sometimes more.
Sciatica Exercises to Avoid
How Long Does It Take for Nerve Gliding to Work?
If nerve flossing is performed diligently, nerve tightness and pain will usually subside over the course of six to eight weeks. You should notice less pain or tingling within a few weeks, and you will likely need to extend the stretches further and further as you progress.
Summary
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W.The effectiveness of neural mobilization for neuromusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7117American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for carpal tunnel syndrome.Anikwe EE, Tella BA, Aiyegbusi AI, Chukwu SC.Influence of nerve flossing technique on acute sciatica and hip range of motion.IJMBR.2015;4(2).
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W.The effectiveness of neural mobilization for neuromusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7117American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for carpal tunnel syndrome.Anikwe EE, Tella BA, Aiyegbusi AI, Chukwu SC.Influence of nerve flossing technique on acute sciatica and hip range of motion.IJMBR.2015;4(2).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W.The effectiveness of neural mobilization for neuromusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7117American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for carpal tunnel syndrome.Anikwe EE, Tella BA, Aiyegbusi AI, Chukwu SC.Influence of nerve flossing technique on acute sciatica and hip range of motion.IJMBR.2015;4(2).
Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W.The effectiveness of neural mobilization for neuromusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017;47(9):593-615. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7117
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Therapeutic exercise program for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Anikwe EE, Tella BA, Aiyegbusi AI, Chukwu SC.Influence of nerve flossing technique on acute sciatica and hip range of motion.IJMBR.2015;4(2).
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