Effect of Mulligan Mobilization on Proprioception in Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint - A Systematic Review

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a degenerative disorder that affects the joint which causes pain, stiffness, swelling, muscle weakness, and functional impairments. Proprioception in the OA knee seems to be impaired when compared with the normal counterparts. Manual therapy is one of the hands-on therapies delivered by physiotherapists. However, there is not much information on how manual therapy affects joint proprioception, although some studies show a positive response. Mulligan’s mobilization technique is common for spinal and peripheral joints to correct positional faults.

Aim: To systematically identify and to evaluate the effects of mulligan mobilization on the proprioception of the OA knee.

Methods: Various electronic databases like PubMed Central, Medline, Google Scholar, ProQuest and CINAHL are searched from 2001 to 2021. Multiple search criteria were used in the search of relevant articles based on the selection criteria used. Four articles that fit the criteria were taken based on the PEDro Scores of above 5. The two specialists analysed all the papers. The articles which cover mulligan’s mobilization and proprioception of the knee were only selected.

Results: Four articles that fit the criteria were reviewed which demonstrated baseline comparability and reported point estimates and measures of variability.

Conclusion: This systematic review has concluded that the knee joint proprioception was improved with applying the Mulligan’s manual therapy, whereas the neurophysiological activity is not well understood.