Joint mobilizationis a type of therapy done to improve joint function and mobility.Joint mobilizationis a type of manual therapy that is aimed to bring back motion and relieve pain on joints that have become immobile due to accidents met while playing sports and other factors such as stress, age and bad posture. It is also very effective in relieving joint pain due to arthritis and in treating impaired movement of physically challenged persons the elderly.

Joint mobilizationtherapy is the application of skilled graded force to help a joint move slowly until it could revert back to its normal motion.  Its primary aim is to improve motion and normalize joint function.Jointmobilizationhelps to relieve pain and release tension from areas such as the head, neck, ribs, spine, wrists, pelvis, ankles and feet. After the treatment,jointmobilizationwill greatly improve joint mobility as well as joint nutrition. Muscle spasms, tension and pain in the affected area will also be decreased.

When a joint cannot be moved the way it is used to, the cartilage nutrition begin to decrease within the joint, forcing adjacent joints to move excessively to balance the movement. When this happens, the adjacent joints will begin to break down due to excessive use which results to tightness of muscles because they begin to lose their ability to contract and relax. Consequently, the whole area surrounding the stiff joint is affected and has become painful. Joint mobilization helps improve the state of cartilage nutrition.

Joint mobilizationis done by placing the patient in a comfortable position where he can relax and allow the joint to be moved freely. A therapist manually presses the impaired joint or area by using his hands and applies force in appropriate direction. However, patients with the following conditions are not advised to undergo joint mobilization in areas like the spine when there is severe osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, when the joint is degenerative, when there is tumor or malignancy in the affected area, when there is bleeding in the joint, in the cervical region when there is dysfunction with the flow of blood within the vertebral artery,  if there is a loose body in the joint, in total joint replacements and in joints near a growth plate. Only until full diagnosis is reached can patients suffering from the above-mentioned conditions be subjected tojoint mobilization.It is important that the therapists are educated enough to be aware of possible inflammation after the treatment.

Joint mobilizationis a safe and gentle way to bring back the joints to function in normal motion. It helps loosening the structure that causes the restriction to move and often relieves pain. To prevent the pain from recurring, patients are advised to do stretching and strengthening exercises. They are also taught how to prevent the pain from returning.