Passive mobilization consists in the movement of a joint in all possible directions without active muscle movements on the part of the patient.
It can be performed by a physiotherapist as well as by a device such as Kinetec.
One must not act too much on stiff joints that are restricted in their movement, as this can cause severe pain and an aggravation of symptoms.
When trying to mobilize painful joints, it is difficult for the patient to relax the muscles. Therefore, a slow movement is better than a fast one.
When does passive mobilization help?
In most cases, it is performed when the movement of a joint is restricted, for example due to surgery, severe inflammation or muscle spasm (crooked neck). In the postoperative period after transplantation of the anterior cruciate ligament, early passive mobilization has reduced the number of complications such as stiffness or severe muscular hypertrophy and favored the fixation of the neuligament. The results were obtained by carrying the entire body weight within the first month while standing.
In bedridden patients due to severe diseases, it helps to maintain joint mobility and prevent adherence and retraction.
What are the biological effects of passive
mobilization?
Synovial cells are part of the synovial membrane, a joint structure that secretes a lubricating fluid in the joint. This fluid (synovia) is necessary to perform painless, flowing movements. Passive movement stimulates the secretion of synovial fluid. The patient has muscle contractions as a defensive reaction. With passive mobilization, they relax. In addition, the (retracted) soft tissue stretches, the blood circulation and especially the nutrition of the cartilage tissue are improved. Pain is mainly reduced in patients who have experienced surgery or an acute accident.
