Joint mobilization education and clinical use in the United States

Joint mobilization in the physical therapy evaluation and treatment of patients with synovial joint dysfunction has come into general use only within the past decade. The purposes of this study were 1) to collect survey data regarding the education of physical therapists in mobilization techniques, 2) to examine quantitative changes in entry-level curricula from 1970 to 1986, and 3) to examine basic and continuing education opportunities and determine whether physical therapists are making use of these opportunities. Using chi-square analysis, significant changes (p less than or equal to .01) were found in the number of entry-level programs offering instruction in joint mobilization techniques and in the interest in initiating or expanding relevant course work. In the survey of practicing physical therapists, the increase in the number of therapists who have had instruction in mobilization techniques was also found to be significant (p less than or equal to .01). These results would seem to indicate that mobilization techniques are becoming more widely used by physical therapists to treat joint dysfunction and that entry-level physical therapy education programs are making an attempt to prepare students by expanding curricula.