The Sports Therapists at massage.physio.co.uk can use joint mobilisations on various joints of the body to reduce pain and improve range of movement. All joints have arthrokinematic movement, this refers to their ability to glide, roll and spin. Without correct arthrokinematic joint movement, the patient may experience pain and reduced range of movement.
- Limited range of movement
- Acute or chronic pain
Our Sports Therapists use joint mobilisations as a treatment modality alongside massage treatment to improve range of movement. An increase in range of movement is achieved via the synovial sweep mechanism which refers to the lubrication of a joint. The oscillation movement involved in joint mobilisations increases the circulation of nutrients within the joint space which helps maintain healthy joints. An increase in lubrication and nutrients within the joints helps improve joint function and range of movement.
mobilisations massage techniques can be used to relieve tight muscles. The mobilisations technique has the ability to physically lift and stretch the tight muscular fibres. This enables the muscle fibres to relax and increase in elasticity. The circulatory effects of mobilisations include an increase in temperature via the process of vasodilation. Vasodilation refers to the widening of blood vessels as the smooth muscles surrounding relax. Vasodilation promotes an increase in tissue temperature due to an increase in blood circulation.
Sports Therapists also use joint mobilisations to reduce pain. This is achieved via the pain gate theory which states a non-painful stimulus such as mobilisations which can inhibit the transmission of harmful stimuli such as injury or inflammation by blocking the signal traveling up the spinal pathway to the brain. Therefore, during and following joint mobilisation treatment, the patient will experience a decrease in pain.
