Advantages of joint mobilization

What is joint mobilization? Are you familiar with this treatment method? Do you know which group of people suffer from this type of joint loosening? Do you know what the cause is? Is the incidence rate high? How to treat it? What are the clinical manifestations, how should we treat them, and what measures should we take to prevent them? Now, let’s take a look at the advantages of joint mobilization with me with your questions.

A concept

Joint mobilization technique is a highly targeted manual manipulation technique performed by the therapist within the range of joint movement. It belongs to the category of passive movement. Its operation speed is slower than massage. When applied, the physiological movement and accessory movement of the joint are often selected as the treatment method. It mainly treats joint dysfunction caused by mechanical factors (non-neurological).

2. Basic Content

Physiological movement of joints

The movement of the finger joints within the physiological range can be completed actively or passively.

Accessory movements of joints

Movements completed within the range allowed by the body and its surrounding tissues are called accessory movements, which are indispensable for maintaining normal joint movement. It usually cannot be completed actively and requires help from other people or the opposite limb, such as joint separation, lateral movement of the patella, etc.

Any joint has accessory movements. When the joint is restricted in movement due to pain or stiffness, its physiological and accessory movements are restricted. If joint pain or stiffness persists after physiologic movement has been resumed, it is possible that accessory movement has not yet fully returned to normal.

Usually, before improving physiological movements, we first improve accessory movements, and the improvement of accessory movements can promote the improvement of physiological movements.

3. Therapeutic effects and clinical applications

Therapeutic effects

(1) Physiological effects: mechanical + neural effects.

Mechanical effect: Promote the flow of synovial fluid, increase the avascular nutrition of articular cartilage and cartilage disc, relieve pain and prevent joint degeneration. Neurological effects: inhibit the release of pain-causing components of the spinal cord and brainstem, and increase the pain threshold.

(2) Maintain the elasticity of the tissue.

Joint mobilization, especially level III and IV - directly stretches the soft tissue around the joint → can maintain or increase extensibility and improve ROM.

(3) Increase the body feedback

The joints are mobilized to provide the following sensory information: joint static position and movement speed and changes, joint movement direction, muscle tension and changes.

Clinical Application

(1) Indications: Any joint dysfunction caused by mechanical factors (non-neurological).

Includes: a. Pain, muscle tension and spasm, b. Reversible ROM↓, c. Progressive limitation of joint movement, d. Functional joint immobilization. For the latter two, the main focus is to maintain the existing ROM.

(2) Contraindications: excessive ROM, joint swelling, inflammation, tumors, and unhealed fractures.

I believe that after reading the above content, everyone will have some understanding of the relevant content of joint mobilization. Here is a brief introduction to the advantages of joint mobilization. If someone unfortunately suffers from joint loosening disease, see if this operation can help you. Joint disease is not a trivial matter. Everyone must pay attention to it, otherwise you will suffer. Everyone must pay attention to joint maintenance in daily life, otherwise the effect will not be very good. It's time for you to care about your joint health, come on. Protect your joints and keep away from diseases.