Background: There is a research report that lumbar mobilization for healthy people improves the knee extension angles and Q-angle related muscle activity (Q: quadriceps muscle). However, there is a lack of research on the effect of lumbar mobilization on gait variables such as cadence and gait speed, especially when mobilizing the central part of the lumbar spine from posterior to anterior. Objectives: To examine the effect of lumbar central PA mobilization in healthy people on cadence and gait speed. Design: Pilot study. Methods: There were 34 participants in this study. In the experimental group, lumbar posterior-anterior joint mobilization was performed once in Grade III-IV for 5 minutes, focusing on the segment with reduced movement. In the control group, lumbar posteroanterior mobilization was performed once in a total of Grade I-II for 5 minutes. To measure cadence and gait speed, STT-IWS and iSen System (San Sebastian, Spain) were used. Results: The comparison of cadence between groups, CG (Control group) increased cadence was about 6 more than EG (Experimental group) cadence, but it was not statistically significant. The gait speed of EG and CG was .30- .31, which was similar between the two groups, and the before and after values were also similar. There is no statistically significant difference Conclusion: The cadence and gait speed of the experimental group were not statistically significantly different than those of the placebo group.

Background: Mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise has been reported in reducing pain from cervical part and improving its motor function; also, has been represented that alleviate of neck pain and recover of neck muscles improve the normal gait performance. However, few studies have identified the effects of mobilization and exercise on pain and gait parameters with preceding issues. Objective: To examine the effects or changes of pressure pain threshold (PPT) and gait parameters in patients with chronic neck pain. Design: Cross-Sectional Clinical Trials Methods: Twenty patients with the history of neck pain (>3 months) performed the cervical mobilization and cranio-cervical flexion exercise. Gait parameters were assessed with wireless device and collected data were transmitted to the personal computer via Bluetooth. The PPT was measured posteroanterior direction at the prone position and the mean of subsequent three PPT measurements was used for the final analysis. Results: Both cervical central posteroanterior mobilization (CCPAM) (p<.000) and sling-based cranio-cervical flexion exercise (SBCCFE) (p<.000) group showed a significant increase in the PPT and the gait parameters, cadence (p<.023), was significantly increased in the CCPAM group, however slightly increased in the SBCCFE group. The comparison between the CCPAM and the SBCCFE groups after treatment did not show significant differences for the score on the PPT and gait parameters. Conclusions: This study suggests that CCPAM and SBCCFE increase PPT, cadence, and gait speed.

Background: Cervical mobilization has been applied mainly for the improvement of arm and neck movements and pain reduction, and little research has been done to improve the executive function. Since this kind of so-called mechanical neck pain is one of most common symptoms, there are controversial issues about this with spine alignment. Posteroanterior (PA) mobilization from the Maitland concept is a process of examination, assessment, and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorder by manipulative physical therapy. Objective: To examine the short-term benefits of mobilization for patients with non-specific neck pain. Design: Dual-group Pretest-Posttest Design from the Quasi-Experimental research Methods: Fourteen participants (male 8, female 6; 20’s of their age) with nonspecific neck pains which are distributed all the unilateral or bilateral body side were recruited. Participants were categorized to Neck Pain with Movement Coordination Impairments (NPMCI) and Neck Pain with Mobility Deficits (NPMD) groups according to the results of physical examination. Professional physical therapist who has over 15-years-of clinical experience applicated manipulative therapy for the neck pain, an occupational therapist only conducted evaluations; K-NDI (Korean version of the Neck Disability Index), VAS (Visual Analog Scale), BDS-K (Korean version of Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale) for decreasing possible adverse effects; there were no person who reported other symptoms followed 4 weeks from the trial. Results: In the NPMCI group, data analysis indicated statistical differences between the PA mobilization interventions in NDI and BDS-K; even though, pain was reduced in VAS, this is not a significantly differ. In the NPMD group, data analysis represented statistical differences between the PA mobilization interventions in NDI, VAS and BDS-K; the scores were represented to be increased or the pain got relief. Conclusions: PA mobilization techniques according to Maitland concept have beneficial effects in patients with neck pain and other clinical positive effects which included neck disability, pain itself and motor function of upper extremity.

The main focus of this study was to investigate effects of lumbar central posteroanterior (PA) mobilization on isometric knee extension (IKE) ability and patellar tendon reflex amplitude (PTRA) in healthy university students. University students aged 19-26 (male; 10, female; 10) without any neurological disorders participated voluntarily and excluded the subjects with abnormal reflexes. The participation had an average body mass of 64.25±13.52 kg, an average height of 1.66±0.08m, and an average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23.07±3.21. Every student was randomly assigned to be received squatting exercise and PA mobilization sequentially with 5 days of wash out period. IKE and PTRA were not significantly different between the two groups after the intervention. All the outcome measures were arranged into two data groups; PA mobilization and squatting exercise data group. In the PA mobilization data group, IKE and PTRA significantly increased after the intervention, however, these aspects were decreased in the squatting exercise group. These findings suggest that IKE and PTRA increase immediately after PA mobilization, therefore PA mobilization could be a valuable topic for controlled clinical trials.

The purpose of this study was to measure the mean peak mobilization forces to the lumbar spine 1-3 with grade III and grade IV of posteroanterior (PA) mobilization. Twenty subjects with no history of Lumbar back pain (LBP) (10 female, 10 male) with a mean age of 24.1 years (SD = 6.0) were recruited for the study and PA mobilization were performed in each spine and the therapist took approximately 2.5s to complete mobilization. In the results, applied grade IV force showed no different according to each segment in LS1, LS2, LS3, however, there are distinct differences between LS1 and LS2, LS1 and LS3 during mobilization with grade III force. This study suggested that the mean peak force of the grade III and grade IV mobilization in the L1-L3 was almost similar each other.

The purpose of this study was to measure the mean peak mobilization forces to the cervical spine 3-5 with grade III and grade IV of posteroanterior (PA) mobilization. Asymptomatic 25 college subjects were participated in the trial and eligible physical therapists performed cervical mobilization. The mean peak mobilization force was measured during the PA mobilization with grade III and grade IV by attaching a flexible force transducer over the C3-C5 spinous process. Three cycles of PA mobilization were performed in each spine and the therapist took approximately 2.5s to complete mobilization. After applying the grade III mobilization to the C3-C5, 30 minutes later, the grade IV mobilization was applied to the same area again. There were no significant differences between C3, C4 and C5 during grade III as well as grade IV. Upon comparing the mean peak force of grade III with mean peak force of grade IV at the C3, C4 and C5 respectively, an insignificant difference was also observed. The mean peak mobilization force was 4.53±1.79 N at the C3, 5.10±1.91 N at the C4, and 5.17±2.63 N at the C5 during grade III force was applied. The mean peak mobilization force was 4.40±1.56 N at the C3, 5.53±2.01 N at the C4, and 5.38± 2.73 N at the C5 during grade IV force was applied. This study suggested that the mean peak force of the grade III and grade IV mobilization in the C3-C5 was similar each other, also there was no difference between mean peak force of grade III and grade IV on C3, C4 and C5.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of central posteroanterior mobilization on the pain, muscle tone, flexibility of trunk flexion, lumbar lordosis in patient with chronic back pain has been studied. The target subject was a 23 year old man, who had chronic back pain without surgical history within six months. The pain has been indicated by the pressure pain threshold, when the subject was pressed his spinous process of L3-L1 by the pressure of grade Ⅳ. The muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness were measured by the MYOTONEⓇ PRO, and the flexibility of trunk flexion was evaluated by the distance from the figure tips to the floor, when subjects flexed their body. The lumbar lordosis was measured from the X-ray picture. The lumbar central posteroanterior mobilization of Maitland orthopedic physical therapy has been applied to the spinous process of L3-L1 in grade Ⅳ by five sets and 10 times for each set. According to the measurement result right after the intervention, the pain decreased from 2/10 to 1/10 based on the visual analogue scale. The flexibility of trunk flexion (distance from the finger tips to the floor) increased The muscle tone decreased from 15.3 to 14.65 and the muscle stiffness also decreased 53.5 from 310 to 256.5. However, the muscle elasticity increased from 0.89 to 1.04 and there was no changed on the lumbar lordosis as 25°. The results of the present study suggest that the central posteroanterior mobilization decrease the pain, muscle tone, and muscle stiffness of the lumbar area, however increase the muscle elasticity and flexibility of the trunk flexion.

The purpose of this case study was to identify the effects of posteroanterior (PA) mobilization on the cervical spine in a patient with chronic whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). The subject of this study was a 58-year-old woman who sustained a chronic WAD as a result of a motor vehicle accident two years prior. The subject has progressively worsening neck pain and stiffness. The subject was determined to have a grade Ⅱb WAD the use of the Modified Quebec Classification. The intervention was central and unilateral PA mobilization on the spinous process of C4 and C5. The PA mobilizations were performed at the end of range to Maitland grade Ⅳ. The PA mobilization was conducted once daily for a total of eight days. Two sets of measurements were done one before and one after the intervention. Neck pain, cervical stiffness, range of motion and lordosis of the cervical spine were measured. Experimental intervention decreased the neck pain, and increased the neck stiffness and cervical ROM (range of motion) such as flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. X-ray photographs also represented that cervical curvature increased from 35° to 40°. This study suggested that PA cervical mobilization applied to hronic WAD is effective in decreasing pain, increasing cervical ROM and cervical curvature.