Assisted Femoral Nerve Glide | Assisted stretch in 3D
Assisted Femoral Nerve Glide: prone, femoral nerve pathway. Preparation, 4 movement phases, points to check and cautions, with a 3D model you can pause and rotate.
Position and focus
Prone · Femoral nerve pathway
Supported, small rhythmic movements for the femoral nerve pathway.
Starting position
The client lies face down with the head turned to a comfortable side. Stand on the client's right and place your hands on the front of the left ankle and over the sacrum.
Movement phases
1. Set the position
Check that the lower back is not arched.
2. Small movements
Bend and straighten the knee in a small range, without tightness in the front of the thigh.
3. Slightly larger range
Bend the knee a little further, as long as there is no numbness or strong tightness.
4. Return the leg
Make the movement smaller and bring the leg back to the table.
What the trainer checks
Check that the buttock does not lift and the lower back does not arch, and ask about any change in sensation in the front of the thigh or the shin.
Instructor information
Trainer position
Stand on the client's right with your feet apart front to back, at a height that suits the table. Move by shifting your body weight rather than holding with the arms alone.
Contact and support
Support the front of the left ankle with one palm and rest the other hand lightly over the sacrum.
Stabilisation
Feel for the pelvis lifting with the hand over the sacrum.
Compensation
Lower-back arching, buttock lifting, pelvic rotation.
Easier option
Reduce the range and let the weight of the leg or arm rest on a cushion or the table. Go back to checking a pain-free starting position.
Cues and consent
Tell the client where you will touch and which way you will move, and say, 'Tell me straight away if you feel any pain or discomfort.' Confirm consent before touching and before moving.
Stop criteria
Return to the starting position immediately if the client reports sharp pain, numbness, weakness, a pinching feeling in the joint, dizziness, shortness of breath or anxiety, or asks to stop.
Caution
Work within your qualifications, contract and studio procedures, and check medical history, medication and any pain before starting. This is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Do not perform unfamiliar techniques from the 3D alone. Think of a nerve glide as sliding rather than stretching, and keep the movements small. Stop if you feel numbness, tingling or pain, or if a sensation stays after moving. If you are receiving treatment for numbness or pain, check with your healthcare professional first.
These English notes describe a prototype model. Stretch and foam roller lessons have not yet been reviewed by the supervising instructors. They are not medical advice or an individual exercise prescription.
References and scope
Basson A et al. The Effectiveness of Neural Mobilization for Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 ↗
A review of research on nerve gliding movements (neural mobilisation): combining joint movements to move the nerve pathway a little at a time.
