What is a nerve glide?
Nerves are long cables that run through the body, and they need to slide a little when you move an arm or leg. A nerve glide is a slow, easy movement that encourages that sliding.
It is sometimes called a nerve slider or neural mobilisation. The goal is to move the nerve, not to stretch it hard.
Why does it matter for a patient?
When a nerve is irritated, for example at the wrist or in the lower back, it can feel tingly, sore or numb. Gentle gliding may help the nerve tolerate movement better, alongside changes to posture and activity.
Pulling hard on a sensitive nerve can make symptoms worse. If a movement brings on pins and needles or sharp pain, stop and ease off.
An everyday example in Ipoh
A seamstress at a shophouse tailor shop wakes with numb fingers after a long day at the machine. Her physiotherapist teaches her a slow wrist and finger glide to do a few times, gently, with no pulling.
She also changes how she rests her wrist at the machine, and the night numbness settles over a few weeks.
Rules of thumb for gentle gliding
- Move slowly and smoothly, with no jerking.
- Stay in a comfortable range. A mild pulling is okay, pain is not.
- Stop if you feel more tingling, numbness or sharp pain.
- Do only the number of repeats your physiotherapist has set.
Related terms and our pages
- Referred pain: pain felt away from the source.
See carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, numb hands at night and peripheral neuropathy.