Joint Manipulation/Mobilization in Concord, Tyngsboro and Barrington
What is Joint Mobilization?
Joint mobilization and manipulation are two modalities we use a lot here when we find that someone isn’t moving optimally. The physical therapist may use their hands or a belt with a skilled application of force, direction, and technique in order to get the desired effects of improved joint mobility and joint health.
Joint mobilization is a conservative approach to improving joint mobility where a joint will be taken to its anatomical end range of motion in a slow and sustained manner and should provide relief.
Joint manipulation has the same outcomes and effects but is performed at a high velocity. Most people commonly know these as chiropractic adjustments but something physical therapists are licensed to do and our staff is credentialed to perform as well.
For more information on our joint mobilization techniques and if you feel you might benefit, please contact us in Concord, Tyngsboro, or Barrington.
What should I expect?
A thorough evaluation will be performed on all patients who present with chronic or acute joint pain. To diagnose accurately, we will assess and evaluate everything, including your joint mobility, range of motion, coordination, stability, pain level, strength, as well as what can provoke and alleviate the joint. This clinical testing will help us make the best decisions on what is going to help you get better faster and be able to have an understanding of what could possibly be happening from a structural and functional perspective.
We will be able to create a personalized treatment plan for you based on the results of our examination and information we gather from you regarding your past and current medical history. We may include manual therapy such as joint mobilization in your care plan, since it has been proven to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions.
Comfortable and loose-fitting clothing is important for joint mobilization sessions. The therapist must be able to feel or see the particular joint that he/she is mobilizing.
We will also help you to optimize the joint mobilizations’ effects. This could include additional interventions at your visit that could include therapeutic exercises for strengthening and range-of-motion, stabilization, and neuromuscular control.
Can joint mobilization be used to treat my condition?
Sometimes a joint may become sensitive, irritated, and painful due to injury, stress, overuse, repetitive motions, or sustained postures. This can cause our joints to become painful, stiff, immobile, and could lead to the joints not moving optimally. Consequently, nearby structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, may also become tight, stiff, and painful from overworking to protect the joint that is painful.
Joint mobilization may not be right for everyone. Our skilled and experienced physical therapists will help you decide if joint mobilization is right for you. Our physical therapy team is able to successfully manage the following conditions with joint mobilizations:
- Whiplash
- Hip impingement
- Shoulder Impingement
- Femoral acetabular impingement
- Labral tears
- Ankle sprains
- Rotator cuff tears or sprains
- Sciatica and other types nerve impingement syndromes
- Arthritis, especially of the shoulder, spine and elbow, hip, knee, and hip.
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder).
- Medial and lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow)
- Low Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Thoracic Pain
Many other injuries and conditions are caused by joint issues, including muscle strains and ligament damage. We strongly recommend that you consult your physical therapists if you have any type of chronic or acute dysfunction. You may not realize that your joints are contributing to your pain.
Why use Joint Mobilization?
There are hundreds of joints within your body. They come in many sizes and types, such as the “hinge” joint in your elbow, the “ball and socket” joint in your hip or the “saddle” joint in your thumb. The articulating surfaces of two or more bones form joints. They require a combination of stability and mobility to function effectively and comfortably. It is important to note that joints can be supported by many physiological structures, such as capsules, ligaments and tendons, cartilage and muscle fibers. All of these structures can become damaged and may benefit from physical therapy, including joint mobilization.
The type, frequency, speed and magnitude of joint mobilization depends on many factors. These include the purpose of treatment, the type and location of the joint and your individual anatomy. Joint mobilizations can reduce pain, improve range of motion and enhance the quality of joint movement (known as arthrokinematics).
Talk To One Of Our Physical Therapists In Concord, Tyngsboro and Barrington
Do you wonder if joint mobilization is right for your needs? Barbell Therapy and Performance invites you to schedule an appointment to discuss the wide variety of physical therapy services that we offer. It is possible to get pain relief without the use of drugs. Start your journey to healing today.
Request An Appointment
Please fill out this form and
we will contact you about scheduling.
Tamantha McClure
I would highly recommend Dr. Brett Scott! I had suffered from 2 stress fractures on my left hip and 1 on my right hip in 3 years. Brett was very knowledgeable and his therapy was more advanced and precisely catered to me and my needs as well as where I was with my recovery. I have seen many PT’s over the years and most of them do the same thing and send you on your way. Dr. Brett does not work on a one size fits all. I am thrilled with my progress and even back to running.
Elyssa Penney
Dr. Brett and his team are the best of the best. I injured my back in 2019 and made some progress over the years but kept re-injuring it. From pain management through all of their modalities, being able to get to the route cause of my pain, and then given a variety of exercises tailored specifically to me to strengthen- I can’t thank them enough. I have learned a ton and feel so much better, I highly recommend them!