Mobilize Your Joints with Physical Therapy!
While joint mobilization is a highly effective treatment choice, many patients are unaware of its advantages.
Our Tulsa, OK physical therapy practice is proud to provide joint mobilization strategies to our patients in need.
This method of treatment entails the passive movement of specific joints with the use of a trained application of force, direction, and technique.
Our physical therapist may choose to use his or her hands to mobilize a wounded joint with joint mobilization, or they may prefer to use devices, such as braces, to help deliver the desired treatment effect.
If you think that our joint mobilization techniques can help you, please contact us today for more information!
How do joints work?
Your joints are supported by a wide range of physiological structures, including ligaments, tendons, capsules, cartilage, and muscle fibers.
All of these structures can be injured but can also benefit from physical therapy treatments, including joint mobilization.
You have hundreds of joints in your body that come in a variety of shapes 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 stability and mobility to help you function efficiently and comfortably.
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 unique anatomy.
The benefits of joint mobilization include the reduction of pain, improved range of motion, and improved quality of the joint movement itself (known as arthrokinematics).
Conditions joint mobilization can treat
Since joint conditions are often the secret underlying factors causing other types of injuries and ailments such as muscle strains, ligament injury, and bursitis, we strongly advise you to consult with a Tulsa, OK physical therapist if you are experiencing some form of acute or chronic dysfunction.
Your joints could be causing you pain without you even realizing it!
Joint mobilization is not necessary for all patients, so our professional and experienced physical therapists will help you determine whether it is the best fit for your treatment plan.
An irritated, swollen, or misaligned joint may occur as a result of an injury, stress, poor posture, repeated movement, or even age-related wear and tear.
When this happens, the joint can become rigid and painful because it does not move correctly.
As a result of attempting to support or stabilize the injured joint, nearby structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments may become tense or injured.
This can lead to muscle weakness or even impingement and damage to nearby nerves.
Specific conditions that our physical therapy team successfully manage with joint mobilizations include:
- Facet joint locking and other types of spinal misalignments
- Medial or lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s or tennis elbow, respectively)
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Arthritis (especially of the shoulder, spine, elbow, hip, and knee)
- Sciatica and other types of nerve impingement syndromes
- Rotator cuff tears and sprains
- Ankle sprains
- Whiplash
What is a typical joint mobilization session like?
At Oklahoma Hand and Physical Therapy, expect a thorough assessment during your initial appointment. We will analyze and examine everything from your range of motion, balance, pain, posture, and even possible tissue tension to design the appropriate treatment plan for your needs.
We will be able to build a personalized care plan to meet 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.
With joint mobilization techniques, your therapist must be able to see or feel the exact joint that he or she is mobilizing – bearing in mind, of course, that your privacy and comfort are of the utmost concern to our staff. Be sure to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing to prepare for a physical therapy session with joint mobilization.
To optimize results and eliminate recurrent discomfort or dysfunction, our Tulsa, OK physical therapist will also be sure to give you specific instructions on how to sit or lie during your appointment. They will also explain exactly what you can expect to experience, and what to do after your session.
We will also provide you with additional tools to supplement and improve the effects of joint mobilization, such as therapeutic exercises for stability and range of motion, at Oklahoma Hand and Physical Therapy. Certain modalities or postural neuromuscular retraining can also be applied to the treatment plan if our physical therapist finds it necessary.
Ready to add joint mobilization to your treatment plan?
Do you think joint mobilization may be right for you? If so, schedule an appointment at Oklahoma Hand and Physical Therapy today to learn more about our wide range of physical therapy services that we offer.
Drug-free relief from joint or muscle pain is possible. Get started on your healing journey today!