The effects of lumbar self-sustained natural apophyseal glides on lumbar spine range of motion and hip muscle flexibility in asymptomatic college students: a crossover study

Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) tend to have prolonged treatment periods, which increase the cost of medical care. Several studies have reported that lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) and hip muscle flexibility are factors in LBP. Sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) have reportedly improved the lumbar spine ROM and hip flexibility of LBP patients. Moreover, self- SNAGs can be performed by the patients themselves. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of self-SNAGs on lumbar spine ROM compared to a repeated movement procedure in asymptomatic college students. Methods: A prospective crossover study was conducted on 14 asymptomatic male college students. The asymptomatic participants performed self-SNAGs or repeated movements (i.e., three sets per day, 6 times a day over 1 week), and the compliance rate for both exercises was recorded. The lumbar spine ROM (i.e., flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation) was measured using the back ROM instrument, and hip muscle flexibility was measured using the Thomas test, heel-buttock distance, finger-floor distance, and straight leg raise test (SLR). Measurements were taken before commencement, immediately after, and 1 week later. Results: Left lateral bending and left SLR were excluded from the between-group comparison (self- SNAG and sham) due to a carryover effect (P < 0.05). A comparison between the self-SNAG and sham groups displayed no significant differences in the lumbar spine ROM and hip muscle flexibility (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study revealed that lumbar self-SNAGs had no significant effect on lumbar spine ROM or hip muscle flexibility in the short term, suggesting that such movements should be avoided when stretching to prevent LBP. However, this study did not include subjects with limited lumbar spine ROM and hip muscle flexibility due to pain, warranting further validation in future studies. Relevance for Patients: The effects of lumbar self-SNAGs were similar to that of sham exercises in healthy individuals without joint ROM restrictions in the trunk or lower extremities due to LBP