The Immediate Effect of Passive Joint Mobilizations on Hand Reaction Time: A Randomized Single-Blind Study

In the treatment of musculoskeletal problems, manual therapy techniques are often used to restore movement and alleviate pain. The period between the initial muscular response or movement in response to a stimulus is referred to as reaction time. There is growing evidence for the benefit of manual mobilization for limb dysfunction, including shoulder and elbow pain, but there is little literature on hand mobilization and little research on its influence on hand reaction time in healthy individuals.

The study comprised 60 healthy participants who completed a voluntary consent form. They were divided into two groups: research and sham mobilization. Participants in the study group had mediolateral wrist glide, anteroposterior 1st MCP glide, and anteroposterior and mediolateral glide. Applications were performed to the wrist, first metacarpal, and CMC joints in three sets of six repetitions. The patient in the sham mobilization group remained in the same posture for the same amount of time without gliding. The Nelson Hand Reaction Test was used to assess hand reaction before and after application. A 50 cm ruler was used, and the average of five measurements in cm was recorded and interpreted to sec.