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Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the slider, tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques and stretching exercises on pain, range of motion (ROM), and functional disability in patients with chronic discogenic sciatica.

Design: A pre-test post-test multi arm parallel RCT.

Setting: Outpatient clinics, faculty of physical therapy, Kafrelsheikh University.

Participants: Thirty-six patients with unilateral chronic discogenic sciatica were randomly allocated into three equal groups: Group (A) slider neurodynamic mobilization, Group (B) tensioner neurodynamic mobilization, and Group (C) stretching exercises of back extensors, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius muscles. Treatment was given three sessions per week for two weeks.

Outcome measures: All patients were examined by visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Modified-Modified Schober test (MMST) for lumbar flexion ROM, goniometer for hip flexion and knee extension ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional assessment.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline ($p<$ 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the slider and tensioner groups compared to the stretching group for all variables. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the slider technique as compared to the tensioner technique regarding ROM of lumbar flexion ($p$ = 0.03), hip flexion ($p$ = 0.004), and knee extension ($p$ = 0.005).

Conclusion: Slider and tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques are more effective than stretching exercises in terms of reducing pain, increasing ROM, and improving function. Slider technique is more effective in ROM improvement.

As the areal recording density increases in hard disk drives (HDDs), the flying physical spacing between the head and the disk decreases and the likelihood of head-disk contact during full speed rotation increases. Therefore, the simulation and modeling of the air bearing slider with ultra-low flying heights becomes an important issue for the operational shock simulation. The static/dynamic properties, including the influence of the radial position and the skew angle of the slider, the rotating speed of the disk, and the shock simulation, of the air bearing slider were analyzed. Generally speaking, for a given rotating speed of the disk, as the slider moves from the inner diameter to the outer diameter, the maximum contact pressure, the skew angle, the pitch angle, and the maximum air bearing pressure increase; while the flying height decreases. These trends are strengthened by a faster rotating speed of the disk. There are obvious oscillations in the air bearing force and the minimum spacing when contact occurs during a shock.