Immediate effects of Maitland mobilization versus Mulligan Mobilization with Movement in Osteoarthritis knee- A Randomized Crossover trial.

Background: Maitland Mobilization or Mulligan Mobilization with Movement (MWM) approaches have been widely used clinically for pain relief and improving mobility in Osteoarthritis knee. However the experimental evidence supporting the usage of these mobilization techniques as sole interventions in management of Osteoarthritis knee is insufficient.

Objective: To determine from Maitland Mobilization and Mulligan MWM, which mobilization technique will be more effective in reducing pain and improving mobility and function in OA knee immediately after the intervention.

Study Design: Randomized Crossover trial.

Materials And Methods: 30 subjects with osteoarthritis knee were recruited and 15 each were randomly allocated to two intervention sequences-one sequence was where Maitland was given first followed by Mulligan and the other was where Mulligan was given first followed by Maitland with a washout period of 48 h in between the two interventions. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Pain free Squat Angle were the outcome measures measured before and immediately after both interventions.

Results: Using Repeated Measures ANOVA for analysis of outcomes between and within interventions, no significant differences were seen between Maitland Mobilization and Mulligan MWM, for NPRS, TUG and Pain free Squat Angle (p = 0.18, p = 0.27,p = 0.17) respectively whereas within the interventions both Maitland and Mulligan all outcome measures showed significant changes (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Thus it can be seen that Maitland mobilization and Mulligan MWM, both are equally effective in osteoarthritis knee in reducing pain and improving functional mobility and pain free squat angle immediately post treatment.