Effectiveness of Movement with Mobilizat

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of movement with mobilization compared with manipulation of wrist on pain, strength, activities of daily living in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Methodology: The study has an experimental design. A total of 30 patients having symptomatic lateral epicondylitis were taken and randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Group A (n=10) received mulligan mobilization whereas Group B (n=10) received wrist manipulation. Group C (n=10) acted as a control group. All the 3 groups received conventional treatment of pulsed ultrasonic therapy at 20% duty cycle, frequency 3MHz and an intensity of 1.2 W/cm2 for 5 min, progressive resisted exercises and stretching. Fifteen treatment sessions are given. Baseline measurement of pain (VAS score), functional pain scale and strength (using weights) was taken on Day 1 and then subsequently at day 5, day 10 and day 15.

Results: The data was analyzed using the software SPSS 12.0. All the three groups show improvement in VAS score. Group A (Mulligan mobilization)&group B (wrist manipulation) lead to statistically significant improvement in strength and functional performance when compared with group C. But there was no statistically significant difference in these two parameters between group A&B.

Conclusion: The study concludes that both the manual therapy techniques i.e. Mulligan mobilization as well as wrist manipulation are equally effective in reducing pain, improving strength and functional performance when compared with conventional treatment regimen of giving only the stretching and resistance exercises along with pulsed ultrasonic therapy.