This manual technique involves applying targeted forces on a painful, stiff, or otherwise compromised joint in order to improve its overall function. While not appropriate in all situations, joint mobilizations may help improve your range of motion, reduce your pain, and minimize your stiffness.
This article will detail how this treatment works, what it is used for, and the risks associated with it.
Uses
When performing a joint mobilization on a body region, the practitioner typically stabilizes one segment of a joint while applying a force to the adjoining body region. This force is usually applied in the direction of the tightness and can be more gentle and oscillating or more forceful and sudden, depending on the type of technique being performed.
Theoretically, joint mobilizations could be used to address stiffness or pain in almost any of the body’s joints. That said, there are a number of body regions that have been shown to respond more favorably to this type of treatment. Among the most common diagnoses that benefit from joint mobilizations are:
Shoulder pain or impingement Acute or chronic back pain Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the thick band of tissue running along the base of the foot and causing heel pain) Hip osteoarthritis Lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow) Ankle sprains or instability Knee osteoarthritis
How It Works
While joint mobilizations have been shown to improve pain and overall function when appropriately performed, their exact mechanism of action is not completely understood.
It is thought that this treatment enhances the ability of the body to respond to pain stimuli by making the tissue in the targeted area less sensitive to pressure. Because the joint is less “excitable” post-mobilization, overall pain levels usually diminish.
This “desensitizing” of the joint tissue may also help the surrounding muscles function more normally and better support the joint itself.
Benefits
While the potential mechanisms of action are still somewhat theoretical, the benefits provided by joint mobilization are more concrete.
This treatment has been found to have a positive impact on the pain levels associated with many of the musculoskeletal conditions described above. Mobilizations have also been associated with temporary increases in joint range of motion and improved overall balance reactions.
It is worth noting, however, that these benefits are usually relatively short-lived. Because of this, your physical therapist or chiropractor will typically use joint mobilizations in tandem with other treatments, like strengthening or stretching, in order to optimize your overall outcome.
Risks
Joint mobilizations are generally considered to be safe for most individuals. This technique does involve the application of force or pressure (sometimes with a high velocity) to an area of the body, however. Because of this, there are some risks involved.
Acute fractures (broken bones)Herniated disks (problem with the cushions between bones in the spine)Decreased bone density (volume of bones)Sensory issuesHypermobility disorders (extremely flexible joints that cause pain) Taking blood thinners
People with the following conditions should exercise caution before undergoing this treatment:
Uncontrolled diabetes or atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries) People taking anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication Vertebralbasilar disease (poor blood flow to the brain stem) Hypermobility disorders or congenital joint laxity (condition causing hypermobility from the time of birth) Local blood vessel aneurysm (bulge in blood vessel) Osteoporosis (brittle bones) or impaired bone density Acute spinal disk herniation (condition in the spine causing severe pain that limits function) Acute or unhealed fractures
If you have questions about whether joint mobilizations are appropriate in your situation, be sure to speak to your physician before undergoing any new treatments. In many cases, the risk of the mobilization may be diminished by performing lower intensity, more gentle versions of the technique.
Summary
Joint mobilization is a hands-on technique used by physical therapists and chiropractors. It involves the application of pressure over a stiff or painful joint. This treatment can improve your range of motion and function while reducing your pain. It is thought to do this by decreasing thesensitivity or excitability of the tissue in the targeted joint.
A Word From Verywell
Living with a stiff, painful joint can make everyday activities seem insurmountable and can significantly limit your ability to function. Fortunately, joint mobilizations may be able to help.
When incorporated into a therapy regimen that includes other valuable treatments like strengthening or stretching, this technique can help you get back to the things you love.
If you are dealing with any of the conditions listed above or just have questions about joint mobilizations, be sure to consult with your medical provider.
Grade 1 mobilizations are small, slow oscillations at the beginning of a joint’s range of motion. Grade 2 are large-amplitude, slow forces within the joint’s entire available range. Grade 3 movements are large in amplitude, slow, and focused on the middle to end range of a joint’s movement. Grade 4 mobilizations are slow, small amplitude movements at the end of a joint’s range. Grade 5 mobilizations involve a single high-velocity, small-amplitude thrust at the end of the range.
