Knee Mobilizations

Question 1

how do we perform distraction at the knee?

Answer 1

in sitting, grab the ankle and pull straight down

can be combined with flex/ext

Question 2

how can we use distraction to restore flexion at the knee?

Answer 2

combine it with a posterior glide of the tibia

in prone, put a towel under the distal though and above popliteal fossa, grip the malleoli and rest your elbow on the back of their thigh going into flexion to distract the jt with flexion

Question 3

how do we do grade 5 mobs to restore end range knee flexion?

Answer 3

in supine hooklying, use your hand as the fulcrum in the popliteal space at the proximal femur near the jt line and go to end range flexion adding a quick stretch

Question 4

t/f: you will always hear a pop with grade 5 mobs

Answer 4

false

Question 5

what are the mobs to restore knee flexion?

Answer 5

posterior glide of the tibia

inferior glide of the patella

IR of the tibia

Question 6

how do we perform posterior glides of the tibia at the knee?

Answer 6

OPP with some knee flexion

stabilizing hand under the distal thigh (can also counteract)

mobilizing hand at the anterior proximal tibia close to the jt line pushing down

can use a bolster for better stabilization

if the knee is flexed more (like posterior drawer test), make sure the force in not straight down, but on an angle back in line with the jt

Question 7

how do we perform inferior patellar glides?

Answer 7

using the webbed space bw the thumb and index finger push down on the apex of the patella

Question 8

how do we mobilize tibial IR?

Answer 8

supine: with lateral tibial anterior glide OR posterior medial tibial glide

prone: unload the patella off the table and posterior glide of the lateral tibia

Question 9

how do we mobilize the proximal tibiofibular jt into IR?

Answer 9

supine: anterior glide of the fibular head on the tibia

can stabilize with the other hand on the medial tibia to or can counteract with posterior tibial glide

Question 10

what are the mobs to restore knee extension?

Answer 10

anterior glide of the tibia

tibial ER

superior patellar glide

Question 11

how do we perform distraction to increase knee extension?

Answer 11

stabilize the knee anteriorly and grab around the ankle and pull b4 the onset of resistance into extension and then go into passive extension

Question 12

how do we perform anterior glide of the tibia at the knee?

Answer 12

prone: towel roll under the knee and grab under the ankle and push down into the table at the top of the tibia OR can put the leg over your shoulder and use both hands on the back of the proximal tibial and pull down in line with the joint

supine: foam roll under the knee, mobilizing hand cupped under the post tibia, stabilizing hand at the ant distal femur OR can block the tibia and do post glide on the femur

sitting: w/knee flexion (similar to ant drawer test) pull forward on the proximal tibia

Question 13

how do we mobilize tibial ER?

Answer 13

supine: stabilize femur and grab med tib and pull up OR post glide of lat tib (ant med tib glide OR post lat tib glide)

prone: unload patella off the table and posterior glide of med tib

Question 14

how do we mobilize the proximal tibiofibular jt into ER?

Answer 14

post glide of fib head on tibia

can stabilize with the other hand on med tib OR can counteract by pulling up on the tib (ant glide of tib)

Question 15

how do we perform inferior patellar glides?

Answer 15

using the webbed space bw the thumb and index finger, push up on the base of the patella