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

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of Mulligan's mobilization with movement (MWM) on elbow proprioception. MethodsThe 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. ResultsAt 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. ConclusionIn this study of healthy participants, no immediate difference was found between MWM and sham application on elbow proprioception.