Joint Mobilizations
Do you have stiff or painful joints? Joint mobilizations might be the technique to get you moving again. This hands-on manual technique is a foundational tool used in physical therapy that helps reduce pain, restore range of motion, and improve joint function. Whether it’s the spine, shoulder, hip, knee, or wrist, restricted movement can result from joint capsule tightness or surrounding tissue limitations. With joint mobilization, physical therapists apply carefully graded passive movements to those joints to unlock stiffness, decrease pain, and to get the body functioning at its best.
Joint mobilizations are categorized by intensity and amplitude, with each grade serving a specific clinical purpose. Lower-grade mobilizations (Grades I and II) are designed to reduce pain and gently move the joint within its available range, while higher-grade mobilizations (Grades III and IV) stretch the joint capsule to improve mobility. In cases where joint restrictions are significant, therapists may use high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust techniques—also known as manipulations—that often produce an audible “pop.” These techniques aim to restore proper joint play, particularly by addressing arthrokinematic motions like glide, roll, and spin, which are essential for functional movement but can’t be performed voluntarily.
The benefits of joint mobilization span a variety of clinical conditions. It's commonly used for patients with osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, post-surgical stiffness, general neck or back pain, and sports-related injuries. Mobilization has been shown to improve range of motion, reduce pain, and enhance function across multiple diagnoses including tendon repairs and joint contractures.
What makes joint mobilization so effective is its ability to work with the body. Combining joint mobilization with therapeutic exercise has shown even greater improvements in pain relief and overall joint function than exercise alone. When paired with active movement and targeted exercises, it stimulates the nervous system, improves proprioception (the body’s sense of position and movement), and promotes healing. Mobilizations don’t just temporarily relieve symptoms, they help retrain how the joint and surrounding tissues move together. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or trying to prevent one, joint mobilization is a safe, proven, and personalized approach that can restore freedom in your everyday movement.
Written by Kennedy Hardemion, SPT
References:
Heiser R, O’Brien VH, Schwartz DA. The use of joint mobilization to improve clinical outcomes in hand therapy: A systematic review of the literature. J Hand Ther. 2013;26(4):297-311. doi:10.1016/j.jht.2013.07.004
ScienceDirect. Joint mobilization – definition and application. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/joint-mobilization#definition
Wen DY, Chang CC, Chang YJ. Efficacy of joint mobilization combined with therapeutic exercise on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Res. 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39940031/