Therapy for Pain Resulting from Joint Restrictions
Joint restrictions are limitations in the normal ability of a joint to travel through its full range of motion without pain. Through injury or postural problems, joints can become painfully limited in one or more directions of movement.
The specialists at the Center for Pain Resolution can identify the source of your pain and work with you on a treatment program that, in some cases, you can eventually do on your own.
Treatments May Include:
Mobilization with Movement (Mulligan Concept) - The therapist identifies the painful movement and which joint is restricting motion. The therapist then holds and maintains a joint mobilization that eliminates the pain while the patient performs the same movement. This procedure is repeated multiple times until the patient can perform the movement without help from the therapist. This treatment promotes patient independence since many of the mobilizations can be done by the patient at home using towels or straps. Other mobilizations can be maintained by the use of tape applied by the therapist between sessions.
Mechanical Link - The therapist identifies and assesses the restricted joints, then uses a very specific low force mobilization (a "recoil") to mobilize the joints. This treatment provides a gentle way to achieve an effect similar to higher force mobilizations.
Muscle Energy Technique - The therapist identifies and assesses the restricted joints, then positions the patient so that a series of gentle muscle contractions performed by the patient mobilizes the joints. In some cases, the patient can be taught to safely perform these mobilizations at home.
Who Can Benefit?
Anyone experiencing pain or limitation in movement could have a joint restriction. One or more restricted joints could also be the mechanism for pain spreading to other areas of the body. To understand why, it is useful to think of joints as links in a chain. If there is restriction at one level, there must be additional movement at other levels. Since the other levels are forced to do additional work, they can also become painful.
Contact the Center for Pain Resolution to learn more about how our therapists can help you manage pain. Call 262-780-0707 or 888-7800-8778.