What Are Nerve Glides (aka Nerve Flossing)?

We at PSPT have talked about nerve glides before in other blog posts. We have mentioned them when we talked about ways to reduce pain and increase range of motion in different areas of the body, but we realized we’ve never exactly explained what nerve glides are.

A nerve glide, also known as nerve flossing, is a type of movement that works the tension out of nerves. The purpose of flossing nerves is to improve neurodynamics. Neurodynamics are the ways that nerves work in the body, how they function with the musculoskeletal systems, and how they fire and move. The importance of focusing on neurodynamics lies in the fact that “neurodynamic exercises aim to improve neural mechanosensitivity in order to promote pain-free movement and function.”2 To be precise, working on the nerves is often going to reduce pain more than just working on muscles and joints.

How does nerve flossing work?

Nerve flossing exercises/nerve glides are made to target specific sets of nerves in designated areas of the body that are experiencing pain.

Often, nerves become tight and in pain after an injury. When you’re recovering from an injury, the nerves are one of the last things to finally recover. That is why you still feel pain even after you have regained your mobility and your injury seems healed. The best way to get your nerves to recover is neural flossing exercises (nerve glides).

A nerve glide consists of slow, controlled, purposeful, and small movement using the body parts that are attached to the affected nerves. The movement simply wakes up the nerves and provides them with the blood flow they need to stop sending pain signals.

Nerves like blood flow and movement. Sometimes you won't have much pain while taking a walk but you might experience pain with sitting or standing for periods of time. This is because the nerves are sensitive to a decrease in blood flow or being in a static posture. Movement increases blood flow which also helps to reduce any swelling or inflammation that may still be hanging around the nerve even after bones, joints, muscles, and tendons have healed.

Examples of Nerve Glides

Nerve flossing neck: Video: Treat Brachial Plexus Nerve Pain with the First Rib Muscle Energy Technique (MET) | Pain Science Physical Therapy (painsciencept.com)

Nerve glides for necks: Video: Learn Nerve Glide Exercises for Headaches and Neck Pain | Pain Science Physical Therapy (painsciencept.com)

Nerve flossing shoulders: What to Do About a Pinched Nerve in Your Shoulder | Lake Burien PT

Nerve flossing for backs: Video: Learn Nerve Glide Exercises to Alleviate Back Pain and Sciatica Pt. 1 | Pain Science Physical Therapy (painsciencept.com)

Nerve flossing for backs part 2: Video: Learn Nerve Glide Exercises to Alleviate Back Pain and Sciatica Pt. 2 | Pain Science Physical Therapy (painsciencept.com)

Nerve glides for heels: Video: Learn Nerve Glides for Alleviating Heel Pain | Pain Science Physical Therapy (painsciencept.com)