What is joint mobilization?
Joint mobilization is a type of manual therapy performed here at our hand therapy clinic. It involves the passive movement of specific joints using the skilled application of force, direction, and technique. A hand 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.
There are hundreds of joints in your body, all of which have different sorts 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. Joints are maintained by a range of physiological systems, including capsules, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscle fibers, all of which can be injured and benefit from hand therapy services, such as joint mobilization.
The type, volume, pace, and frequency of joint mobilization relies on a variety of parameters, including the treatment goal, the type of joint being addressed, and even your personal anatomy. Joint mobilizations have three main effects: pain relief, increased range of motion, and enhanced joint movement quality (known as arthrokinematics).
What conditions can benefit from joint mobilization?
A joint can become inflamed, swollen, or misaligned. WAs a result of injury, stress, poor posture, repetitive movement, or even age-related wear and tear when this happens, the joint may become stiff and painful as a result of improper movement.
As a result of attempting to support or stabilize the afflicted joint, other tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments may become stiff or injured. This might result in muscle weakening or possibly nerve impingement and injury.
Joint mobilization isn’t appropriate for all patients, and our skilled and experienced hand therapists can determine if it’s right for you or a loved one.
Specific conditions which our hand therapy team successfully manages with joint mobilizations include:
- Arthritis (especially of the shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand)
- Rotator cuff tears and sprains
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Medial or lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s or tennis elbow, respectively)
Because joint problems are frequently the hidden underlying causes of various injuries and ailments like muscle strains, ligament damage, and bursitis, we strongly advise you to see a hand therapist if you have any form of acute or chronic dysfunction.
It’s possible that your joints are causing your discomfort without you even noticing it!
What should I expect during a joint mobilization treatment with a hand therapist?
If you come to see a hand therapist at our clinic with acute or chronic joint pain, then you can first expect to be thoroughly examined on an initial examination. Since joint mobilization techniques have been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, we may very well decide to implement this type of manual therapy in your plan of care!
To prepare for a hand therapy session with joint mobilization, be sure to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. Your therapist will need to be able to see or at least easily palpate (feel) the specific joint they are mobilizing.
Your hand therapist will make sure to give you clear instructions on how to sit or lie during the session, what to expect, and what to do afterward to maximize the effects and avoid recurrence of discomfort or dysfunction.
We’ll teach you additional services such as therapeutic exercises for strengthening and range of motion, modalities, and postural and neuromuscular retraining to complement and optimize the effects of joint mobilizations.
We’ll be assessing and evaluating everything from your range of motion, strength, coordination, pain level, posture, and even relative tissue tension and feel in order to help us devise an accurate diagnosis. Based on our exam findings, as well as the information we glean from questioning you about your current and past medical history, we’ll be able to devise a customized treatment plan to meet your unique needs.
Call our occupational therapy clinic today for help
Are you wondering if joint mobilization is right for you? Our friendly staff is happy to answer your questions, help you schedule a visit, and educate you about the wide range of hand therapy services we offer. Drug-free relief from your joint or muscle pain is possible, so contact Cascade Hand & Orthopedic Rehab in Fort Myers, FL to get your healing journey started today.
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