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12 Therapeutic Exercise: Moving Toward Function

DISPLAY 7-6
Knee Joint Mobilization

Tibiofemoral Anterior Glide
Purpose: increase extension
Position: patient is prone with the knee at the edge of the table;
mobilizing hand is just distal to knee joint and stabilizing hand
supports anterior ankle
Mobilization: anteriorly directed force downward through
mobilizing hand while stabilizing hand applies gentle distal
traction
Tibiofemoral Posterior Glide
Purpose: increase flexion
Position: patient is supine or sitting with the knee at the edge of
the table; mobilizing hand is just distal to the knee joint and
stabilizing hand supports posterior ankle
Mobilization: a posteriorly directed force through mobilizing hand
while the stabilizing hand applies gentle distal traction
Patellofemoral Joint Mobilization
Purpose: increased general patellar mobility; and superior glide
for increased extension, inferior glide for increased flexion
Position: supine with knee supported by table, wedge, or towel
roll; mobilizing thumb and index finger placed along patellar
border oriented to direction of mobilization
Mobilization: apply a medially, laterally, superiorly, or inferiorly
directed force to the patella

Hall & Brody: Therapeutic Exercise: Moving Toward Function, 2nd Edition
© 2005, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins