Joint Mobilization Can Help You Move Freely Once Again
Joint mobilization is an incredibly effective treatment choice, but many patients are unaware of its advantages.
Our Monterey physical therapy clinic is proud to offer joint mobilization techniques to our patients in need.
This form of treatment involves the passive movement of specific joints using the skilled application of force, direction, and technique.
Our physical therapist may use his or her hands to mobilize an injured joint with joint mobilization, or they may prefer to use some instruments, like braces, to help deliver the desired treatment effect.
If you think our joint mobilization techniques might help you, contact Full Circle Physical Therapy today for more information!
What is a typical joint mobilization session like?
If you come to see a physical therapist for acute or chronic joint pain at Full Circle Physical Therapy, then you can first expect a thorough assessment during your initial evaluation.
In order to establish an appropriate diagnosis, we will analyze and examine everything from your range of motion, intensity, balance, pain level, posture, and even possible tissue tension.
We will be able to construct a personalized care plan to suit your specific needs based on our examination results, as well as the details we collect from asking you about your current and past medical background.
Because joint mobilization strategies have been shown to be successful for a number of conditions, we may very well decide to incorporate this form of manual therapy into your treatment plan.
Be sure to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothes to prepare for a physical therapy session with joint mobilization Full Circle Physical Therapy.
Our therapist must be able to see or feel the exact joint he or she is mobilizing, keeping in mind of course, that your privacy and comfort are of utmost concern to our staff.
In order to optimize the results and eliminate recurring discomfort or dysfunction, our physical therapist will also be sure to give you specific instructions about how to sit or lie during the appointment, what you can expect to experience, and what to do after your session.
We will also provide you with additional resources to complement and enhance the effects of joint mobilization, which may include therapeutic exercises for stabilization and range of motion, modalities, and postural and neuromuscular retraining.
Can joint mobilization help my condition?
Joint mobilization isn't appropriate for all patients, and our skilled and experienced physical therapists can determine if it's right for you or a loved one.
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 of trying to support or stabilize the injured joint.
This can lead to muscle weakness or even impingement and damage to nearby nerves.
Specific conditions which our physical therapy team successfully manage with joint mobilizations include:
- Arthritis (especially of the shoulder, spine, elbow, hip, and knee)
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Medial or lateral epicondylitis (golfer's or tennis elbow, respectively)
- Facet joint locking and other types of spinal misalignments
- Whiplash
- Ankle sprains
- Rotator cuff tears and sprains
- Sciatica and other types of nerve impingement syndromes
Joint issues are often the hidden underlying factors driving other types of injuries and ailments including muscle strains, ligament damage, and bursitis, so this is why we strongly encourage you to consult with a Monterey physical therapist with any type of acute or chronic dysfunction.
Your joints could be contributing to your pain without you even realizing it!
More information about 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). Your joints depend on a combination of both stability and mobility in order to help you function efficiently and comfortably.
Joints are supported by a wide variety of physiological structures including ligaments, tendons, capsules, cartilage, and muscle fibers, all of which can become injured and potentially benefit from physical therapy services, including joint mobilization.
The specific type, magnitude, speed, and frequency of joint mobilization performed depends on several factors, including the goal of treatment, the type of joint being targeted, and even your own unique anatomy.
The benefits of joint mobilizations include pain reduction, improved range of motion, and improved quality of joint movement itself (known as arthrokinematics).
