Mobilization - ReEnvision Physical Therapy

Joint Mobilization

Alleviate Your Pain, Restore Your Mobility

Joint mobilization is a hands-on treatment designed to relieve pain and restore mobility after an injury. These exercises are considered manual physical therapy and mimic the glide that happens in between the bone. Usually done in slow and gentle progression, mobilization eases the joint in the desired direction to improve function and control pain.

Which Joints Benefit from Being Mobilized?

Any joint with a limited range of motion can benefit from mobilization from a certified physical therapist, including the:

Neck
Upper, lower and middle back
Sacroiliac (SI) joints
Shoulder
Knee
Hand and wrist
Foot and ankle

Some exercises used in joint mobilization are:

Spinal mobilization
PA mobilizations
Tibiofemoral glide
Patella motion
Long axis distraction
Other motions, including lateral movement and rotation

Benefits of Joint Mobilization

Mobilization exercises are designed to reduce pain and restore normal function. This physical therapy technique resembles how healthy joints move naturally, with less restriction, helping the muscles relax.

Your physical therapist may recommend joint mobilization in addition to other therapies, such as heating pads or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to further loosen up the joint and make mobilization more effective.

Process of Joint Mobilization

After your diagnostic appointment, your physical therapist may recommend joint mobilization as part of your treatment process. You will begin in a comfortable position where you can relax and allow the joint to move freely. Your physical therapist will use their hands to access the stiff joint and apply gentle force as needed to move the joint in the appropriate direction.

Your physical therapist may use more force and higher speed mobilizations as you progress through treatment.

Who Needs Joint Mobilization?

Your physical therapist can tell if joint mobilization is appropriate for your condition by assessing your range of motion and muscle strength. Joint mobilization exercises may be recommended if you have any of the following conditions:

Generalized stiffness in joints
Limited range of motion due to injury or disease, such as arthritis
Sports-related injuries that cause pain and limited mobility, such as joint inflammation (bursitis), ligament sprains or frozen shoulder
Any physical problem that causes musculoskeletal pain or stiffness, including poor posture

Schedule Your Physical Therapy Appointment

The physical therapists at ReEnvision are trained and certified in manual and therapeutic exercise, including trigger point massage. Begin your comprehensive diagnostic appointment today to see which treatments may be right for you. Give us a call at (833) 493-4325 or fill out our form below.