Joint pain is a very common condition that we treat on a daily basis. One of the many treatment techniques physical therapy professionals are trained to use is a technique called joint mobilization. Joint Mobilization is utilized to relieve joint pain, improve mobility, and improve physical function (the ability to walk and move).
Types of Joint Mobilization
There are a number of techniques to mobilize (move) joints in the body. These mobilization techniques often have specific names derived from the clinicians that created and successfully tested them on patients.
Examples of some techniques are:
- IASTM or Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
- Mulligan Manual Therapy or mobilization with movement
- Neural Tension Mobilization – specialized techniques to move nerves
- Graded Mobilizations – low velocity movement techniques with various amplitudes
- Manipulation – high velocity, low amplitude thrust at or near the end-range of joint mobility
Details About a Specific Type of Mobilization – Manipulation
Spinal manipulation—sometimes called “spinal manipulative therapy”—is utilized by physical therapists here at our practice. We perform spinal manipulation by using our hands or a device to apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The amount of force applied depends on the form of manipulation used. The goal of the treatment is to relieve pain and improve physical functioning.
