The 'soft tissues' are defined as muscles, ligaments and even tendons and basically anything that isn't bone. Here, the joint surfaces are glided across each other in an attempt to increase painfree movement of that joint. This is a hands on technique performed by the physical therapist to restore motion in any joint. Limitations in accessory mobility are treated with joint glide which restores normal slide and with traction which provides a gentle stretch of the joint capsule and restores normal distraction. There are various grades and types of mobilization that the physical therapist may use to help improve range of motion of the joint.
Joint mobilization is used to treat hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, the spine, ankle and knee.
The muscles are lengthened beyond where they are normally resting. This is the use of a vaporized-coolant spray used as a local anesthetic in the treatment of trigger points and to help increase the range of motion with a painless passive stretch to the muscle. Using these techniques effectively, a physical therapist can decrease pain, increase painfree movement and promote general healing. This 'shortening' of the muscle aides in the muscles' total relaxation and usually decreases in pain. Muscle Energy involves contracting a certain muscle at a very low level and then gently stretching it as it moves across a joint.