Joint Mobilisation Services in Holland Park, Brisbane
If you are exploring options for managing joint stiffness or musculoskeletal discomfort in Holland Park or nearby Brisbane areas, you might be seeking information on manual therapy techniques like Joint Mobilisation. This technique is commonly used by chiropractors and other manual therapists as part of a broader approach to care. At Silky Oak Chiropractic, Joint Mobilisation is one of the manual therapy techniques Dr. Jan Jones may employ, depending on your individual assessment findings and health goals. It involves the application of gentle, passive movements to specific joints with the aim of restoring or improving motion.
Understanding Joint Mobilisation: Characteristics and Approach
Joint Mobilisation differs from some other manual techniques, such as spinal manipulation (adjustment), primarily in the way movement is applied. Understanding its characteristics can help you have informed discussions with your healthcare provider.
1. Gentle, Passive Movement: Joint Mobilisation involves the chiropractor manually moving a patient’s joint through a range of motion. These movements are typically performed passively (meaning the patient relaxes while the practitioner moves the joint) and are often applied in a smooth, rhythmic, or oscillatory manner. The speed and amplitude (size) of the movement can be varied, but critically, these movements are usually kept within the joint’s available physiological range, not pushing forcefully beyond its limit.
2. Aiming to Restore Normal Joint Mechanics: Joints require not only large-scale movement (like bending your knee) but also small, subtle, involuntary movements known sometimes as ‘joint play’ or ‘accessory motion’ (like slight gliding or sliding within the joint). These subtle movements are essential for smooth, pain-free function. When joints become stiff, often due to injury, disuse, inflammation, or degenerative changes, this joint play can be restricted. Joint Mobilisation techniques specifically target these accessory motions, aiming to restore the normal gliding and sliding mechanics within the joint capsule.
3. Potential to Improve Range of Motion: By addressing stiffness within the joint capsule and restoring accessory movements, Joint Mobilisation can contribute to an overall improvement in the available range of motion of that joint. If a joint is stiff and restricted, applying gentle mobilisation techniques may help gradually increase its ability to move freely, which can, in turn, improve functional capacity.
4. Modulation of Pain Perception: Applying gentle, rhythmic movement to a joint and the surrounding tissues stimulates various nerve receptors (mechanoreceptors). According to theoretical models like the Gate Control Theory of Pain, stimulating these mechanoreceptors may help inhibit the transmission of pain signals travelling along other nerve pathways. Therefore, Joint Mobilisation may assist in modulating the perception of pain associated with joint stiffness or minor dysfunction. Evidence suggests manual therapy techniques, including mobilisation, can influence pain processing mechanisms (Reference 1, 2).
5. Potential Reduction in Protective Muscle Guarding: When a joint is painful or stiff, surrounding muscles often tighten protectively, sometimes referred to as muscle guarding or spasm. This can further restrict movement and contribute to discomfort. The gentle nature of Joint Mobilisation, combined with its potential pain-modulating effects, may help to reduce this protective muscle guarding, allowing for easier movement and potentially decreasing associated muscle soreness.
6. Graded Application: Joint Mobilisation techniques can be carefully graded in terms of the amplitude and intensity of movement applied. For instance, using the Maitland grading system, lower grades (I and II) involve small amplitude movements primarily used for pain modulation, while higher grades (III and IV) use larger amplitude movements that reach further into the available range, aiming to stretch stiff tissues and increase mobility. This allows the chiropractor to tailor the technique based on the patient’s tolerance, the stage of their condition (acute vs. chronic), and the primary goal (pain relief vs. improving movement).
7. Versatility Across Different Joints: While often associated with spinal joints (neck, mid-back, lower back), Joint Mobilisation techniques can be effectively applied to peripheral joints throughout the body, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot, where joint stiffness or restricted movement is identified.
8. Integration Within a Comprehensive Care Plan: Joint Mobilisation is rarely used in isolation. At Silky Oak Chiropractic, it is considered one component of a multimodal approach to care. It is often combined with other manual therapies (like soft tissue work), specific exercise prescription (stretching, strengthening), postural advice, ergonomic recommendations, and patient education to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Our Process: Joint Mobilisation at Silky Oak Chiropractic
When you visit Silky Oak Chiropractic, the process of care is designed to be thorough and patient-focused. If Joint Mobilisation is identified as a potentially beneficial technique for you, here’s what the process generally involves:
1. Detailed Assessment: As with any chiropractic care, your visit starts with understanding your health history, the nature of your current symptoms, and your functional goals. A comprehensive physical examination follows, including assessment of your posture, movement patterns, muscle strength and flexibility, neurological status, and specific orthopaedic tests relevant to your condition.
2. Identifying Joint Restrictions: Dr. Jones will use specific palpation skills and joint play assessment techniques to identify joints that feel restricted or are not moving optimally. This involves gently moving the joint through its various ranges to feel for stiffness, assess the quality of movement, and note any patient discomfort.
3. Performing the Mobilisation: If mobilisation is indicated, you will be positioned comfortably, usually in a relaxed state. Dr. Jones will use specific hand placements on or around the targeted joint. Gentle, passive movements (such as small oscillations or sustained stretches) will then be applied to the joint within its available range. The grade, direction, and duration of the mobilisation will be chosen based on the assessment findings and treatment goals. Communication is key, and Dr. Jones will monitor your comfort throughout the procedure.
4. Re-Assessment: Following the mobilisation, the chiropractor may re-assess the joint’s movement, your overall range of motion, or your tenderness levels to gauge the immediate response to the technique.
5. Integration and Advice: The findings and the role of the mobilisation within your overall management plan will be discussed. You will typically receive specific advice on home care, which is crucial for reinforcing the effects of treatment. This usually includes targeted exercises or stretches designed to maintain mobility, strengthen supporting muscles, and prevent recurrence of the issue.
References:
(Note: These references relate to manual therapy, which encompasses joint mobilisation, and its effects or use in clinical guidelines.)
- Mechanisms of Manual Therapy: Bialosky JE, Bishop MD, Price DD, Robinson ME, George SZ. The mechanisms of manual therapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain: a comprehensive model. Man Ther. 2009;14(5):531-538. (Discusses potential neurophysiological effects).
- Manual Therapy for Low Back Pain (Guideline Example): Oliveira CB, Maher CG, Pinto RZ, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. Eur Spine J. 2018;27(11):2791-2803. (Often includes manual therapy as a recommended option).
- Manual Therapy for Neck Pain (Systematic Review Example): Wong JJ, Shearer HM, Mior S, et al. Are manual therapies, passive physical modalities, or acupuncture effective for the management of patients with whiplash-associated disorders or neck pain and associated disorders? An update of the Bone and Joint Decade Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders by the OPTIMa collaboration. Spine J. 2016;16(12):1598-1630. (Evaluates evidence for various interventions, including mobilisation/manipulation).
- Pain Modulation: Sluka KA, Frey-Law L, Hoeger Bement M. Exercise-induced pain and analgesia? Underlying mechanisms and clinical translation. Pain. 2018;159 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S91-S97. (While focused on exercise, discusses pain modulation concepts relevant to manual therapy inputs).
- Clinical Practice Guideline Example (Shoulder Pain): Pieters L, Lewis J, Kuppens K, et al. An update of systematic reviews examining the effectiveness of conservative physical therapy interventions for subacromial shoulder pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2020;50(3):131-141. (Manual therapy is often considered for peripheral joints).
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or chiropractic advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a registered chiropractor, for a thorough assessment, diagnosis, and discussion of appropriate treatment options based on your individual circumstances and health status. Do not disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Treatment outcomes can vary between individuals.
