JOINT MOBILIZATION

JOINT TYPE / ANATOMY RESTING POS’N CLOSED PACKED CAPSULAR GLIDES

POS’N PATTERN
Glenohumeral Joint Multiaxial / Ball and Socket *55’ Abduction *Abduction / ER *ER > Abd > IR Caudal – Abduction
Humeral head – convex 30’ Horizontal Add Dorsal – IR / Flex
Glenoid fossa – concave Ventral – ER / ext
#Neutral rotation
Sternoclavicular Double arthrodial / Saddle *Arm resting by side in *Maximum shoulder *Pain at extreme ROM Dorsal – retraction
Joint Manubrium – concave = supero normal physiologic elevation Ventral – protraction
/ inferiorly position Full elevation Inferior – elevation
Convex = antero / Superior – depression
posteriorly #Clavicle horizontal
Clavicle – opposite of above #Scapula 5 cm lateral to
spinous process
Acromioclavicular Arthrodial *Arm resting by side in *90’ Abduction *Pain at extreme ROM Anterior – increase joint mobility
Joint Acromion – concave normal physiologic #Dorsal – elevation; neutral
Clavicle – convex position +30’ Abduction Full elevation elevation

#Clavicle horizontal
Scapulothoracic Not a true joint #Clavicle horizontal None None Cranial – elevation
Joint *Thorax – convex #Lateral – protraction, ER
elevation
Humeroulnar Joint Ginglymus / Hinge *70’ Flexion *Extension *Flexion > extension Distal – flexion
Olecranon fossa– concave = 10’ Supination #Medial – Abd; flex / ext
Abd / Adduction Full extension / Pron / Supination if #Lateral – Add; flex / ext
Convex = flex / supination severe #Medial gap – ext / flex; pronation
extension #Lateral gap – flexion
Trochlea – convex

Humeroradial Joint Trochoid / Pivot *Full extension / supination *90’ Flexion *Flexion > extension > Dorsal – extension
Capitulum – convex 5’ Supination supination > pron Ventral – flexion
Radial head – concave +Anatomical position #Dorsal glide of radial head –
pronation
#Volar glide of radial head –
supination

University of Santo Tomas • College of Rehabilitation Sciences • Therapeutic Exercises I Page 1 of 4

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 JOINT TYPE / ANATOMY RESTING POS’N CLOSED PACKED CAPSULAR GLIDES
POS’N PATTERN
Prox. Radioulnar Trochoid / Pivot *70’ Flexion *5’ Supination *Supination > pronation Dorsal – pronation
Joint Radial head – convex 35’ Supination Volar – supination
Radial notch – concave /Full & painless,
pron/sup equal in
presence of
restrictions
Distal Radioulnar Trochoid / Pivot *10’ Supination *5’ Supination *Full ROM, pain at Dorsal – supination
Joint Ulnar notch – concave extremes of rotation Volar – pronation
Head of ulna – convex
Radiocarpal / Wrist Condyloid *Neutral with slight ulnar *Extension with radial *Equal in flexion and Dorsal – flexion
Joint Radius – concave deviation deviation extension Volar – extension
Carpals – convex Radial – ulnar deviation
+Extension / ulnar Ulnar – radial deviation
deviation
*Intercarpal Joint Arthrodial Neutral with slight flexion and Full extension Equal in all Dorsal / ventral – flexion /
ulnar deviation extension
Radial – ulnar deviation
Ulnar – radial deviation
Trapeziometacarpal Sellar joint #Neutral Full opposition *Abduction > extension Dorsal – Abduction
st
Joint (1 Trapezium – convex = flex / ext Volar – Adduction
CMC Joint) Concave = Abd / +/Abduction and Radial – extension
Adduction extension Ulnar – flexion
st
1 MCP – opposite of above
Carpometacarpal Condyloid *Neutral None /Equal in all Dorsal – extension
Joint (2-5) Carpals – convex Volar – flexion
MCP – concave +Anatomical position
st
Metacarpopha- Condyloid *Slight flexion *1 MCP – full *Flexion > extension Dorsal – extension
langeal Joint Metacarpals – convex opposition Volar – flexion
Phalanges – concave Others – full flexion
Hip Joint Multiaxial / Ball and socket *30’ Flexion *Full extension / IR / *Flexion > Abd > IR (var) Caudal – Abduction
Acetabulum – concave 30’ Abduction Abd (in some) Ventral – extension / ER
Femoral head - convex Slight ER /IR, flexion & abduction Dorsal – flexion / IR
Lig. – full ext / Abd / IR #Lateral – IR / Adduction
Bony – 90’ flexion / Abd +same as / , sometimes
/ ER with extension

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 JOINT TYPE / ANATOMY RESTING POS’N CLOSED PACKED CAPSULAR GLIDES
POS’N PATTERN
Tibiofemoral Joint Ginglymus / Hinge *25’ Flexion *Full extension / ER of *Flexion > extension Dorsal – flexion
Femoral condyles – convex tibia Ventral – extension
Tibial plateau – concave #Medial – all ROM
#Lateral – all ROM
Patellofemoral Joint Patella – convex #Full extension #Full extension #Flexion > extension Cranial – extension
Femur – concave Caudal – knee flexion
#Medial – flexion / medial tracking
#Lateral – flexion / lateral tracking
Prox. Tibiofibular Arthrodial #25’ Flexion #Unknown *Pain when joint is Ventral – inc. fibular movement
Joint Tibia – convex #10’ Plantarflexion stressed #Dorsal / ventral – all ROM
Fibula – concave
Distal Tibiofibular Arthrodial #10’ Plantarflexion #None None Dorsal – PF
Joint Tibia – concave #5’ Inversion Ventral – DF
Fibula – convex Cranial – DF
Caudal – PF
Talocrural / Ankle Ginglymus / Hinge *10’ Plantarflexion *Maximum dorsiflexion *PF > DF Dorsal – DF
Joint Tibia /fibula – concave midway bet. INV & EV Ventral – PF
Talus – convex
Subtalar / Arthrodial *Midrange *Supination *LOM of varus ROM Medial – eversion
Talocalcaneal Calcaneus – convex Lateral - inversion
Joint Talus – concave INV > EV
Tarsometatarsal Arthrodial *Midrange *Supination Plantar – PF accessory motion
Joints needed for supination
Dorsal – dorsal gliding needed for
pronation
Midtarsal / Arthrodial *Midrange *Supination *DF > PF > Add > IR
Intermetatar-
sal Joint +/DF, PF, Abd & IR
equal
st
Metatarsophalan- Condyloid *Neutral *Full extension *1 MTP – Ext > flex Dorsal – extension
geal Joint Metatarsal – convex *Others – variable Plantar – flexion
Phalanges – concave Medial – Abd of digits 1,2,3
/Others – variable, tend Add of digits 4,5
toward flexion Lateral – Abd of digits 4,5
Add of digits 1,2,3

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 JOINT TYPE / ANATOMY RESTING POS’N CLOSED PACKED CAPSULAR GLIDES
POS’N PATTERN
Interphalangeal Ginglymus / Hinge *Slight flexion *Full extension *Flexion >extension Dorsal – extension
Joint Plantar – flexion
/LE – Extension >
flexion
Temporomandibu- Ginglymus and arthrodial *Slightly open (freeway *Clenched teeth *LOM in opening mouth
lar Joint Convex over concave space)
articulating disk
Atlanto-occipital *Extension / lateral
Joint flexion equal
Cervical Spine +Vert. Bodies – amphiarthordial *Midway between flexion and *Extension *Lat. flexion / rotation #Cranial glide
Thoracic Spine +Vert. Arches – arthrodial & extension equal > extension #Rotation
Lumbar Spine syndesmosis #Ventral glide
+Cervical facets – lat.
flex. / rot. equal,
flexion full ROM &
painfull, ext. is
limited
+Lumbar / thoracic
facets – cannot be
assessed
Sacroiliac, +Synchondrosis (SI Joint) *Pain when joints are
symphysis +Amphiarthrodial stressed
pubis and (sacrococcygeal joint)
sacrococcy-
geal

LEGEND:

* Magee (OPA)
/ O’Sullivan
+ Rehab Specialist
# Notes

University of Santo Tomas • College of Rehabilitation Sciences • Therapeutic Exercises I Page 4 of 4

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