Joint Mobilisation

When joint injury, arthritis, or muscle tightness leads to restricted mobility, joint mobilisation can help get you moving freely again.

Here at Bounty Physio, our experienced physiotherapists use a variety of gentle joint mobilisation techniques to treat stiff, painful joints throughout the body.

Joint mobilisation involves applying controlled manual forces to guide the joint through its normal range of motion. This helps stretch tight periarticular structures, stimulate synovial fluid production, and encourage proper joint function.

It is an effective treatment for joint stiffness, chronic pain, loss of mobility, and more.

Joint mobilisation techniques – including traction, glides, oscillation, and distraction motions – act on the joint and surrounding tissues in several beneficial ways:

• Stretches muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules that have become shortened or thickened. This increases flexibility.
• Stimulates synovial fluid production to nourish cartilage and reduce friction within the joint.
• Improves proprioception to enhance coordination and stability in the area.
• Restores optimal alignment of joint surfaces.
• Promotes circulation to deliver vital nutrients while flushing out inflammatory waste products.
• Alleviates pain by modifying pain receptor activity in the joint.
• Re-educates the muscles to move the joint through a pain-free range of motion.

These cumulative effects make joint mobilisation effective for both immediate and lasting improvements in joint mobility and function.

Joint mobilisation can benefit many orthopaedic and musculoskeletal problems including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Post-surgical stiffness
• Sprains and strains
• Frozen shoulder
• Whiplash
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Ankle pain
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Wrist or elbow pain
• And more!

It is particularly helpful for pain and loss of mobility due to degenerative joint changes from arthritis. Joint mobilisation helps maintain function and independence for arthritis sufferers.

Compared to medication or surgery, joint mobilisation offers many advantages such as:

• Non-invasive treatment
• Little to no recovery time
• Provides both immediate and lasting improvements
• Covered by insurance plans
• Low risk of side effects
• Improves function and quality of life
• Delays or avoids joint replacement surgery
• Can be used alongside other therapies for multi-modal benefits

For arthritic joints, regular joint mobilisation may help postpone the need for surgery for years. It helps maintain healthy joint mobility and delays degeneration.

During your appointment, your physiotherapist will first assess your joints’ current range of motion and identify restrictions. They will then apply hands-on joint mobilisation techniques customised to your condition, including:

• Passive range of motion – Your therapist will gently move the joint through its range to promote mobility.
• Mobilisation with movement – Mobilisation techniques are combined with active motions from you.
• Muscle re-education – You’ll practise controlled movements as your therapist provides manual resistance.
• Traction – Gentle pressure is used to separate joint surfaces.
• Rhythmic oscillations – Repeated small movements pump nourishing joint fluid.
• Positional release – The joint is held in positions that relieve muscle tension.

Your therapist will communicate with you about any discomfort so they can adjust the techniques. You may feel some mild stretching or pressure during treatment. Afterwards, joints often have less stiffness and pain, with improved mobility.

For simple joint stiffness, 1-3 sessions may resolve symptoms. Chronic, long-standing joint restriction often requires 6 sessions or more. An initial evaluation helps determine how many visits you will need for optimal gains. Maintaining improvement then requires less frequent maintenance therapy.

To get the most out of each session, follow your therapist’s at-home recommendations for rest, icing, exercises, assistive devices, activity modification, and pain medications. This supports and prolongs the benefits of joint mobilisation.

Our experienced physiotherapists achieve excellent outcomes using the latest joint mobilisation techniques. Benefits of therapy with us include:

• Proven results – We have years of experience helping patients restore comfortable joint movement.
• Evidence-based techniques – Our skills are constantly updated through continuing education on current best practices.
• Progressive programs – We don’t just treat your symptoms, but work to resolve the root causes of your joint problems.
• Holistic approach – Joint mobilisation is combined with exercise, education, braces, modalities, and more for comprehensive care.
• Patient-centred – Your goals and preferences inform how we apply joint mobilisation and other therapies.
• Emphasis on safety – Our techniques are gentle, gradual, and customised to your tolerance levels.
• Caring touch – We take time to ensure your complete comfort and keep you informed during therapy.

If joint pain and stiffness are limiting your mobility and function, joint mobilisation may help get you moving freely again.

Contact us today to book an initial assessment and start your path to better joint health!