Joint Mobilization

Joint mobilization techniques were developed in Australia and New Zealand by Dr Geoff Maitland, Brian Mulligan and Robin McKenzie. They are a way of restoring normal biomechanical function to joints. These techniques can be applied to all articulations of the spine and peripheral joints.

In gross movement, all joints exhibit an accessory movement of the articulating surfaces. These movements are of a very small scale and occur within the joint capsule. Dysfunction of the anatomical accessory movements can cause joint stiffness, restricted mobility, decreased extensibility of muscles and ultimately pain.

Joint mobilization techniques involve the therapist diagnosing a specific accessory movement dysfunction at the joint and applying an appropriate pressure, in a specific direction to correct the dysfunction.

Neural Mobilization

Neural mobilization was developed by David Butler in Australia. Nerves, like all soft tissues in the body, can become restricted and tight, causing pain. The shortening of nerves can be a result of injury or trauma, or due to many years of poor posture (as is often the case with neck and arm pain). Neural mobilization lengthens neural tissue via a specific, gentle stretch applied by the therapist to the target nerve.

Karen often uses this technique to treat problems with the sciatic nerve in the leg. Adverse tension in the median, radial or ulnar nerves of the arm that result in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome also respond well to neural mobilization.