Joint mobilization is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at a 'target' synovial joint with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect. When applied to the spine, it is known as spinal mobilization

Spinal mobilization

Spinal mobilization is a type of passive movement of a spinal segment or region. It is usually performed with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect....

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Terminology

Mobilization is a manual therapy

Manual therapy

Manual therapy, manipulative therapy, or manual & manipulative therapy is a physical treatment primarily used by physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability; it most commonly includes massage therapy, joint mobilization and joint...

 intervention and is classified by five 'grades' of motion, each of which describes the range of motion

Range of motion

Range of motion , is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields...

 of the target joint during the procedure.

Roman numerals

Roman numerals

The numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:...

 are generally used in labelling the grades of motion (i.e. Grades I to V). Grade V is the same as manipulation

Joint manipulation

Joint manipulation is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at one or more 'target' synovial joints with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect.- Biomechanics of joint manipulation :...

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Mechanisms of action

The different grades of mobilization are believed to produce selective activation of different mechanoreceptors in the joint:.

• Grade I - Activates Type I mechanoreceptors with a low threshold and which respond to very small increments of tension.

Activates cutaneous mechanoreceptors.

Oscillatory motion will selectively activate the dynamic, rapidly adapting receptors, ie. Meissner's and Pacinian Corpuscles . The former respond to the rate of skin indentation and the latter respond to the acceleration and retraction of that indentation.

• Grade II - Similar effect as Grade I.

By virtue of the large amplitude movement it will affect Type II mechanoreceptors to a greater extent.

• Grade III - Similar to Grade II.

Selectively activates more of the muscle and joint mechanoreceptors as it goes into resistance, and less of the cutaneous ones as the slack of the subcutaneous tissues is taken up.

• Grade IV - Similar to Grade III.

With its more sustained movement at the end of range will activate the static, slow adapting, Type I mechanoreceptors, whose resting discharge rises in proportion to the degree of change in joint capsule tension.

• Grade V - This is the same as joint manipulation
  Joint manipulation
  Joint manipulation is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at one or more 'target' synovial joints with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect.- Biomechanics of joint manipulation :...
  
  . Use of the term 'Grade V' is only valid if the joint is positioned near to its end range of motion during joint manipulation. Evans and Breen recently contested this assumption, in fact arguing that an individual synovial joint should be positioned near to its resting, neutral position.

See also

• Joint manipulation
  Joint manipulation
  Joint manipulation is a type of passive movement of a skeletal joint. It is usually aimed at one or more 'target' synovial joints with the aim of achieving a therapeutic effect.- Biomechanics of joint manipulation :...
  
  
• Orthopedic medicine
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
  Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
  Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine is the application of the distinct osteopathic philosophy, structural diagnosis and use of Osteopathic Manipulative Technique in the diagnosis and management of the patient. OMM takes into account the physical and mental health of a patient, and how either aspect...
  
  
• Chiropractic
  Chiropractic
  Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
  
  
• Physical therapy
  Physical therapy
  Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...