Immediate Effects of Mulligan Mobilization on Elbow Proprioception in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Single-Blind Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of Mulligan's mobilization with movement (MWM) on elbow proprioception.

Methods: The study included 26 participants in the intervention group and 30 participants in the control group. The intervention group received MWM, while the control group received a sham application. Proprioception was assessed with joint position sense error at baseline, immediately after mobilization, and 30 minutes after mobilization with 70° and 110° of elbow flexion. The hypothesis of interest was the group × time interaction.

Results: At 110° of elbow flexion, group × time interaction was significant (F[2, 108] = 11.48, P = .001). In the paired comparisons, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of the control group in the first measurement (P = .003). No difference was detected in other time points (P = 1.00). At 70° of elbow flexion, there was no significant difference between the time point × group interaction (F[2, 108] = 1.37, P = .10). Therefore, no pairwise comparison was made.

Conclusion: In this study of healthy participants, no immediate difference was found between MWM and sham application on elbow proprioception.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05261347.

Keywords: Elbow; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Proprioception; Rehabilitation.