Joint Mobilization Therapy
What is Joint Mobilization?
You have hundreds of joints in your body, which come in a variety of types and sizes (such as a “hinge joint” in your elbow, a “ball and socket joint” in your hip, or a “saddle joint” in your thumb). Joints, formed by the articulating surfaces of two or more bones, depend on a combination of both stability and mobility in order to help you function efficiently and comfortably.
Importantly, joints are supported by a wide variety of physiological structures including capsules, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscle fibers, all of which can become injured and potentially benefit from physical therapy services. This is where Joint Mobilization comes in—a specialized manual therapy technique designed to relieve pain and restore function.
Joint mobilization involves the passive movement of specific joints using the skilled application of force, direction, and technique. A physical therapist can use his or her hands to mobilize an affected joint, or may elect to use certain tools, including straps, to help deliver the desired treatment effect. This is a critical component of Orthopedic Rehabilitation for patients recovering from surgery or chronic conditions.
The primary effects of joint mobilizations include pain reduction, improved range of motion, and improved quality of joint movement itself (known as arthrokinematics).
What Conditions Can Benefit from Joint Mobilization?
Sometimes, a joint can become irritated, swollen, or misaligned as a result of injury, stress, poor posture, repetitive movement, or even as a result of age-related wear and tear. When this happens, the joint may not move correctly and become stiff and painful. Nearby structures including muscles, tendons, and ligaments may become tense or injured as a compensatory effect.
Joint mobilization isn’t appropriate for all patients, but our skilled physical therapists can determine if it’s right for you. Specific conditions which our physical therapy team successfully manage with joint mobilizations include:
- Arthritis Relief: Especially effective for osteoarthritis of the shoulder, spine, elbow, hip, and knee.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries: Essential for recovery from tears and sprains.
- Adhesive Capsulitis: Commonly known as "Frozen Shoulder."
- Epicondylitis: Treatment for Golfer’s or Tennis Elbow.
- Ankle Sprains: Restoring stability after accidental injuries.
- Sciatica Pain Relief: Relieving nerve impingement syndromes.
- Spinal Misalignments: Treating Facet joint locking.
- Whiplash: Often covered under Auto Accident Injury insurance claims.
Joint issues are often the hidden underlying factors driving other types of injuries and ailments including muscle strains, ligament damage, and bursitis. Your joints could be contributing to your pain without you even realizing it!
What to Expect During Treatment
If you come to see a physical therapist at Sports and Orthopaedic Therapy Services with acute or chronic joint pain, then you can first expect to be thoroughly examined on an initial examination. We’ll be assessing and evaluating everything from your range of motion, strength, coordination, pain level, posture, and even relative tissue tension.
To prepare for a physical therapy session with joint mobilization, be sure to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. Your physical therapist will offer clear details on how to sit or lie during the session, what you should expect to feel, as well as what to do following your session. To complement and optimize the effects of joint mobilizations, we’ll also instruct you in additional services which may include therapeutic exercises for strengthening and range of motion.
Are you wondering if joint mobilization is right for you? Contact Sports and Orthopaedic Therapy Services today. Drug-free relief from your joint or muscle pain is possible, so contact us in Silver Spring, MD to get your healing journey started today.