[Purpose] To compare humeral head translation (HHT) during shoulder elevation between dominant and non-dominant shoulders in participants with limited dominant shoulder internal rotation range of motion (ROM). To determine if joint mobilization alters HHT, and if relationships exist between the bicipital forearm angle and HHT. [Participants and Methods] Fifteen (9 female) participants (age 25.7 ± 6.8 years) with a minimum 15-degree dominant shoulder internal rotation ROM deficit compared to the opposite shoulder participated. All participants underwent bicipital forearm angle (BFA) measurements and ultrasound imaging to measure acromiohumeral and posterior glenohumeral distances in 3 positions: Resting, 90 degrees of shoulder flexion, and 60 degrees of shoulder abduction with full external rotation. Ultrasound images were used to calculate HHT. Participants\' dominant shoulders underwent posterior glide mobilization, followed immediately by repeated ultrasound images and ROM measures. [Results] There was no dominant to non-dominant shoulder, or before and after mobilization HHT differences. No correlations existed between bicipital forearm angles and HHT or ROM gains after mobilization. [Conclusion] Participants with internal rotation ROM loss demonstrated symmetrical HHT. Joint mobilization increased ROM, but HHT was unchanged. No relationships existed between BFA and HHT.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of completing a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and examine the preliminary effects of 2 interventions for hip-related groin pain (HRGP).
METHODS: In this pilot RCT, patients with HRGP, who were 18 to 40 years old, were randomized (1:1 ratio) to a joint mobilization (JtMob) group or a movement pattern training (MoveTrain) group. Both treatments included 10 supervised sessions and a home exercise program. The goal of JtMob was to reduce pain and improve mobility through peripherally and centrally mediated pain mechanisms. The key element was physical therapist-provided JtMob. The goal of MoveTrain was to reduce hip joint stresses by optimizing the biomechanics of patient-specific tasks. The key element was task-specific instruction to correct abnormal movement patterns displayed during tasks. Primary outcomes were related to future trial feasibility. The primary effectiveness outcome was the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Examiners were blinded to group; patients and treatment providers were not. Data collected at baseline and immediately after treatment were analyzed with analysis of covariance using a generalized linear model in which change was the dependent variable and baseline was the covariate. The study was modified due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic affected participation; 127 patients were screened, 33 were randomized (18 to the JtMob group and 15 to the MoveTrain group), and 29 (88%) provided posttreatment data. Treatment session adherence was 85%, and home exercise program component adherence ranged from 71 to 86%. Both groups demonstrated significant mean within-group improvements of ≥5 points on Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score scales. There were no between-group differences in effectiveness outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: A large RCT to assess the effects of JtMob and MoveTrain for patients with HRGP may be feasible. Preliminary findings suggested that JtMob or MoveTrain may result in improvements in patient-reported pain and activity limitations.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with participation, but a randomized controlled trial may be feasible. Modification may be needed if the trial is completed during future pandemics.

To analyze the changes over time in the strain on the inferior iliofemoral (IIF) ligament when a constant high-force long-axis distraction mobilization (LADM) was applied over 5 minutes.
A cross-sectional laboratory cadaveric study.
Anatomy laboratory.
Thirteen hip joints from 9 fresh-frozen cadavers (mean age, 75.6±7.8 years; N=13).
High-force LADM in open-packed position was sustained for a period of 5 minutes.
Strain on IFF ligament was measured over time with a microminiature differential variable reluctance transducer. Strain measurements were taken at every 15 seconds for the first 3 minutes and every 30 seconds for the next 2 minutes.
Major changes in strain occurred in the first minute of high-force LADM application. The greatest increase in strain on the IFF ligament occurred at the first 15 seconds (7.3±7.2%). At 30 seconds, the increase in strain was 10.1±9.6%, the half of the total increase at the end of the 5-minute high-force LADM (20.2±8.5%). Significant changes in strain measures were shown to occur at 45 seconds of high-force LADM (F=18.11; P<.001).
When a 5-minute high-force LADM was applied, the major changes in the strain on IIF ligament occurred in the first minute of the mobilization. A high-force LADM mobilization should be sustained at least 45 seconds to produce a significant change in the strain of capsular-ligament tissue.

BACKGROUND: Although lumbar mobilization (LM) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) are used to increase flexibility in clinical practice, remains unclear which technic is the most effective. This study aims to verify and compare the immediate effect of unilateral LM and hold-relax PNF on hamstring flexibility.
METHODS: A randomized, blinded, crossover trial carried out in university research laboratory. Thirty healthy young adults were randomly allocated to three groups, each group receive unilateral, central posterior-anterior LM grade III to the L4 joint, hold-relax PNF and control intervention in a different order with 48 h of washout period. Hamstring flexibility was measured using photogrammetry before and immediately after intervention through range of motion (ROM) change in the Straight Leg Raise Test. T-tests were used to compare ROM within groups, and ANOVA repeated measure followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests was used for between groups comparison.
RESULTS: Two participants were lost to follow-up, leaving 28 for analysis (21.6 ± 2.2 years-old). LM increased 4.5° (95% CI 2.3-6.5°, p = 0.001, d = 0.29) on the straight leg raise test and PNF increased 10.0° (95% CI 7.7-12.2°, p = 0.001, d = 0.7). No statistically significant increase was observed on the control group (p = 0.151, d = 0.08). Further, the technique used significantly influenced ROM (p = 0.001, η²p = 0.37). On the between group analysis, PNF was better than LM (p = 0.005) and control (p = 0.001), whereas LM was no better than the control for hamstring flexibility (p = 0.68).
CONCLUSIONS: Although hold-relax PNF and unilateral LM techniques increased ROM, hold-relax PNF was more effective on increasing hamstring flexibility.

UNASSIGNED: Chronic Neck Pain (CNP) is one of the main contributing factors to disability in people of working age.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the efficacy between acupuncture and joint mobilization on pain and disability in patients with CNP.
UNASSIGNED: The study involved 45 men and women with CNP, divided into three groups of 15 each. The first group followed a manual therapy protocol with joint mobilization for eight weeks three times per week. The second group followed an acupuncture protocol of equal duration and frequency, while the third group did not follow any treatment. Pain with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and functional limitations with the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire were assessed before and after an 8-week intervention. Analysis of variance was applied while post-hoc comparisons were made to determine the differences among the groups at each time of measurement.
UNASSIGNED: Both intervention groups showed statistically significant differences compared to the control group after the end of the intervention in both the VAS and the NDI scores (p< .001). Furthermore, the acupuncture group showed a statistically significant improvement compared to the joint mobilization team after the end of the intervention in the VAS score (p< .001) and the NDI score (p< .05).
UNASSIGNED: Both joint mobilization and acupuncture appear to be effective interventions in reducing pain and improving functional ability in people with CNP. However, acupuncture appears to have a greater analgesic effect than joint mobilization.

UNASSIGNED: To compare the effects of dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation with interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mobilization in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
UNASSIGNED: One hundred-twenty patients with TMD were randomized to receive six treatment sessions of dry needling plus upper cervical spinal manipulation (n = 62) or interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and joint mobilization to the TMJ (n = 58).
UNASSIGNED: Patients receiving dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation experienced significantly greater reductions in jaw pain intensity over the last 7 days (VAS: F = 23.696; p < 0.001) and active pain-free mouth opening (F = 29.902; p < 0.001) than those receiving interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and TMJ mobilization at the 3-month follow-up.
UNASSIGNED: Dry needling and upper cervical spinal manipulation was more effective than interocclusal splint therapy, diclofenac, and TMJ mobilization in patients with TMD.

[Purpose] To investigate if joint mobilization in patients with subacromial pain syndrome has additional benefits to a home training program on shoulder function and pain, and to compare home training to no physical therapy. [Participants and Methods] Eighty-nine primary care patients (mean age 45 years) with subacromial pain syndrome during an average of 23 weeks. Home training was performed twice a day during a 12 week period. One of the intervention groups received add-on shoulder joint mobilization to the home training. A third group did not receive any physical therapy. Constant-Murley score, pain and active range of motion was evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months. [Results] The total Constant-Murley score revealed no significant differences between groups at any time point. All groups improved over time. The add-on joint mobilization group reached clinical important change at 12 weeks. The subscale pain showed that both intervention groups reported less pain after 12 weeks compared to the reference group. [Conclusion] Home training is not superior to no treatment evaluated with the total Constant-Murley score. However, home training with or without add-on joint mobilization may decrease pain compared to no treatment.

BACKGROUND: The range of motion (RoM) of dorsiflexion (DF) plays an important role in human mobility, such as absorption of body weight during gait deceleration, jump landings, balance, and eccentric movements. This limitation can generate potentially damaging movements. This way, evaluating techniques for DF RoM increase could help improve immediate performance in such functional activities. This being the case, the objective of this study will be to verify the sum effect of different joint mobilization techniques for DF gain in persons practicing physical activities and its relationship with functional performance and balance.
METHODS: This is a randomized, controlled, and blind clinical trial. Fifty-four (54) volunteers will be recruited, aged between 18 and 40 years, who have DF limitations. After checking eligibility criteria, the participants will be submitted to a physiotherapeutic evaluation. A researcher, blind to evaluation and treatment, will perform the randomization of patients in groups: (A) Joint Mobilization - Mulligan Concept and (B) Joint Mobilization - Maitland Method. All volunteers will be submitted by two blind evaluators for randomization and treatment groups. They will realize the initial evaluation (A0), immediately after techniques (A1) and after 3-4 days of the technique application (A2). A different researcher, blind for evaluation, will perform the treatment, according to the randomization group.
CONCLUSIONS: It is already known that DF RoM limitation can lead to compensatory and potentially damaging lower limb movements and that joint mobilizations are effective to treatment. However, there is no consensus whether the application of these techniques would also improve aspects of dynamic postural balance and performance in individuals practicing physical activity, and whether the sum of two joint mobilization techniques could enhance this effect.
BACKGROUND: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) RBR-93xv9t . Registered on 09 April 2020.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the effectiveness of Maitland\'s joint mobilization and therapeutic exercises on the functionality of the hands in patients with systemic sclerosis.
UNASSIGNED: Randomized controlled trial.
UNASSIGNED: Tertiary university hospital.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-four patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis according to ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria; age ⩾18 years and Cochin Hand Functional Scale (COCHIN) score ⩾10. They were randomized to physical therapy group (n = 12) or control group (n = 12).
UNASSIGNED: The physical therapy group received joint mobilization and undertook therapeutic exercises, twice a week, for 12 weeks, and received a booklet with information about the disease. The control group only received the booklet about the disease.
UNASSIGNED: The primary outcome measure was functionality of the hands (COCHIN). The secondary outcomes measures were disability (SHAQ), pain (visual analogic scale), range of motion (HAMIS and Delta finger-to-palm), grip strength (JAMAR dynamometer), and quality of life (SF12).
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-two patients were female, with a mean age of 47.4 ± 11.1 years and 18 had limited cutaneous form. The physical therapy group showed a decrease of 11.33 points in the COCHIN in comparison with the control group (P = 0.09). There was a significant increase in range of motion by HAMIS (3.00 ± 1.48 vs 5.42 ± 2.64, P = 0.008), reduction in pain VAS (3.42 ± 2.78 vs 7.75 ± 2.53, P < 0.001), and increase in the physical component of SF12 (38.51 ± 9.60 vs 32.65 ± 9.10, P = 0.038).
UNASSIGNED: Maitland\'s joint mobilization and therapeutic exercises improved the functionality of the hands, reduced pain in the hands and wrists, increased range of motion, and improved quality of life in patients with systemic sclerosis.

The forward head posture (FHP) of stroke patients has a negative impact on respiratory function. Cervical spine mobilization is a manual therapy technique that used to prevent and treat FHP and respiratory function. This pilot study investigated whether cervical spine mobilization can effectively improve outcomes following FHP and respiratory function of stroke patients. Twenty-four patients participated in our assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. All the participants received neurodevelopmental treatments (gait training and trunk rehabilitation). The experimental group additionally received 15-min sessions of cervical spine mobilization three times per week for 4 weeks. The control group received cervical spine sham mobilization during the same period. For the cervical angles, the cranial vertebral angle (CVA) and cranial rotation angle (CRA) were measured. A respiratory function test was performed to measure the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and chest circumferences (upper and lower chest sizes). Except for MIP, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. The CVA and CRA were significantly increased in the experimental group only. Cervical spine mobilization improved cervical angles and inspiratory function of the stroke patients in this study. However, a comparative study with a larger number of patients is needed to confirm this finding from our pilot study, which had a small sample size.