Mulligan bent leg raise technique--a preliminary randomized trial of immediate effects after a single intervention

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects over 24h, on range of motion and pain, of a single intervention of Mulligan's bent leg raise (BLR) technique in subjects with limited straight leg raise (SLR) and low back pain (LBP). Mulligan techniques are frequently used in practice but their effectiveness has not been adequately researched. Ninety-four subjects were contacted by telephone and 46 volunteered for assessment. Of these, 24 fulfilled inclusion criteria of unilateral SLR limitation and LBP. All subjects were naïve to physiotherapy, blinded, and randomly allocated to either a BLR (n=12) or placebo group (n=12). Range of SLR was measured by an assessor blind to group allocation, prior to, immediately following, and 24h after the intervention. Similarly pain was assessed prior to, and 24h after the intervention. After adjusting for differences in baseline values of SLR range, there was no difference between the two groups immediately after the intervention. However, 24h later, there was a significant increase in the range by 7 degrees in the BLR group, which may be clinically important. In addition there was a one-point reduction in pain, but no difference between groups. This preliminary study provides limited support for the use of the BLR technique; however, further research is required.