Joint Mobilization | How does it help in increasing the range of motion?

Are you unable to move your joints after a long period of immobilization, overuse, or trauma?  If yes, then to restore the normal movement of these affected joints you require early treatment.  One such treatment technique used is Joint mobilization. This technique is used by physiotherapists to passively move the joint to increase the range of motion and decrease pain. The treatment enhances movements like gliding, rolling, spinning, etc that take place between the bones after injury.  These are small, involuntary movements that assist the joints to perform to their optimum. In this blog, we will discuss joint mobilization and its benefits.

 

Joint Mobilization

This technique, also known as manual therapy, is performed by well-trained physiotherapists.  Joint mobilization is the application of graded forces to move a joint in the desired direction. The person is placed in a comfortable and relaxed position to allow the free movement of the joint.  Hands are used to localize the joint which is to be mobilized, mobilization is applied at a slow speed, with or without oscillations or a stretch, by using the hands in the appropriate direction. Grades of joint mobilization range from Grades 1 – 5.  Grades 1 – 4 are used to apply partial movement glides to the end range and Grade 5 is the same as manipulation. The treatment is progressed with the application of high-speed mobilizations helping in reducing pain and in restoring joint play.

 

Classification of movements:

• Medial to Lateral
• Anterior to Posterior (AP)
• Oscillations
• Translation
• Distraction

 

Grades:

Grade 1: Small-amplitude movement at the beginning range of joint movement.

Grade 2: Large amplitude movement at the mid-range of joint movement.

Grade 3: Large amplitude movement at the end range of joint movement.

Grade 4: Small amplitude movement at the end of the range of joint movement.

Grade 5: Manipulation of high velocity and low amplitude to the anatomical endpoint of a joint.

 

What Happens When a joint has limited motion?

Due to limited joint mobility, the nutrition of cartilage starts to decrease within the joint, and other joints begin to compensate for the joint stiffness and thus move excessively. This overuse of the adjacent joints causes their deterioration due to overuse. Muscles surrounding the stiff joint become tight and lose their ability to contract and relax sufficiently, thus causing overall dysfunction of the joint.

 

Benefits:

• Decreases pain,
• Decreases joint tightness,
• Improves joint mobility
• Decreases muscle spasms
• Decreases muscle tension,
• Induce reflex muscle relaxation,
• Increases functionality.

 

Indications for Joint Mobilization

The physiotherapist examines the anatomy, arthrokinematics, and the pathology of the neuromusculoskeletal system to recognize when the techniques are indicated. The pathomechanics of the condition is understood first to determine whether joint mobilization is appropriate for the specific musculoskeletal condition.

 Precautions

Joint mobilization is a successful treatment technique used to treat many cases of joint dysfunction, but certain precautions are necessary like in case of:

• Joint hypermobility
• Osteoporosis
• Joint effusion
• Severe scoliosis
• Fracture
• joint ankylosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tuberculosis
• Paget's disease
• Malignancy
• Pregnancy

 Complications of joint mobilization like tendon or muscle injury, nerve damage, dislocation, and fracture should be taken care of.  Therefore, these techniques should be performed by a well-trained physiotherapist to avoid any unnecessary injuries.

 How to manage Pain in Winters with Physiotherapy?

As temperatures drop in the winter, weather-related health problems start to rise. Especially for patients with bone & joint-related issues. Pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common symptoms are harder to control during the winter. Physiotherapy can help patients suffering from arthritis, spondylosis, asthma etc in managing pain in winters and living through winter pain-free.

 

Common conditions that get worsened in winters & How Physiotherapy helps:

 1. Joint pains and stiffened muscles are the most common health problem plaguing the lives of older people in low temperatures. There is a 50 percent spike in the number of senior citizens seeking treatment for bone and joint problems during winter.

 Various modalities like hot & cold therapy, TENS therapy, and therapeutic massages can help in managing joint pain & loosen muscles during winters. Also, your physiotherapist can suggest certain exercises/stretches to keep the pain at bay.

 2. Rheumatoid arthritis is another chronic ailment that concerns people during winters. Its symptoms including pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and other common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are harder to control during the winter

 Physical therapy is an effective and safe treatment for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Under proper counseling individuals with rheumatoid arthritis can safely exercise, improving overall physical fitness, improved sense of wellbeing, and greater ease for activities of daily living

 3. Cervical Spondylosis, a condition affecting bones, discs, and joints of the neck of people have a tough time as temperatures dip in winter.

 

Physiotherapy plays a significant role in the management of cervical Spondylosis. In the active part of physical therapy, a physical therapist teaches various exercises to improve flexibility, strength, core stability, and range of motion.

 4. Asthma attacks are also triggered by cold weather, as winters come with a lot of allergens in the air, being the main causative factor for asthma. People with asthma have sensitive airways, which gets aggravated by cold or damp weather conditions.

 Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and pursing lip breathing techniques are widely used in asthma to prevent breathing abnormalities. Pursed lip breathing prevents the trapping of air into the lungs.

https://cbphysiotherapy.in/blog/world-osteoporosis-day-managing-bone-health-with-physiotherapy

World Osteoporosis Day: Managing Bone Health with Physiotherapy

World Osteoporosis Day is observed on the 20th of October every year. This day is dedicated to raising awareness for early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of Osteoporosis. World Osteoporosis Day WOD aims to make osteoporosis and fracture prevention a global health priority by reaching out to health-care professionals, patients, and the public at large. Osteoporosis is a skeletal condition, which leads to the thinning of bones, mainly due to a deficiency of minerals such as calcium. Mineral deficiency leads to reduced bone density, which is characterized by brittle bones that are prone to fractures. Individuals with osteoporosis often experience multiple fractures in the long bones of arms and legs, and in the spine. Osteoporosis hinders movement and thus causes Joint Pain and Pain in the bones. Regular exercise and good nutrition, including getting the recommended daily amounts of calcium and vitamin D, are essential for building and maintaining bone strength throughout the lifespan. Various osteoporosis treatments have been proven to reduce fractures by 30 to 50 percent.

 

Factors Responsible for Osteoporosis 

 

Genetic factors play a critical role as a risk determining factor for Osteoporosis, but dietary and lifestyle modifications can help to prevent it. Identifying early signs and symptoms can help people take tangible steps to monitor Osteoporosis. Family history, low bone density, poor levels of vitamins and minerals and some health conditions and medications contribute to osteoporosis risk. Sedentary lifestyles alcoholic consumption, dietary gaps are also associated with the risk factors of osteoporosis. Reduction in bone mineral density is a natural process after the mid-20s, but incorporating an adequate amount of calcium, proteins, and vitamin D in our everyday diet can help to reduce our risk of Osteoporosis. Older adults lose bone mass with natural aging. With age, the ability to create new bone decreases while disuse continues to occur. In women, there is a sharp decline in bone mineral density after menopause, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Thus, postmenopausal women need necessary measures to prevent osteoporosis during later years in life.

 

 

Role of Physiotherapy in treating Osteoporosis

 

Strategies to improve bone density and reduce the likelihood of falls are important in the prevention of osteoporosis. Physiotherapists have a role to play in this condition through exercise prescription, therapeutic modalities, specific techniques and education. Appropriate treatment goals can be established following a thorough assessment of signs and symptoms, risk factors for osteoporosis and functional status. Since the aim is to maximize peak bone mass in children and adolescents, participation in a variety of high-impact activities should be encouraged.

 

Physiotherapy includes certain bone-strengthening exercises, such as weight-bearing activities (including walking or jogging) or resistance training (such as weight lifting or yoga).To also help prevent further fractures, a physical therapist helps patients suffering from osteoporosis to improve balance and posture. Better control over balance will help people to prevent falls while proper posture takes unnecessary stress off the spine, which will reduce the risk of spinal fractures. A physical therapist may even help people to make changes in-home and/or office to promote a healthy recovery. Often physiotherapy teaches people safe ways to do everyday activities—from how to correctly lie down to how to sneeze properly—that will help people to avoid fractures. Physical therapy is an effective non-surgical treatment for osteoporosis that may help restore healthy movement, function, and bone strength. Physiotherapy will teach patients suffering from weak bones to exercise for bone health and ways to manage daily activities to lessen the chances of having an osteoporosis-related fracture.