Mobilization

Mobilization (/moʊˌbɪlɪˈzeɪʃən/) is a medical term referring to the act of making something movable or capable of movement. This term is often used in the context of physical therapy and orthopedics to describe the process of restoring movement to a body part or joint that has been immobilized due to injury, surgery, or a medical condition.

Etymology

The term "mobilization" is derived from the Latin word "mobilis", which means movable. It was first used in the medical context in the early 20th century.

Related Terms

Joint Mobilization: A type of manual therapy performed by physical therapists to increase range of motion and reduce pain in a specific joint.
Mobilization with Movement (MWM): A manual therapy approach developed by Brian Mulligan, a New Zealand physiotherapist, which combines passive mobilization and active movement to restore function and reduce pain.
Neurodynamic Mobilization: A technique used in physical therapy to improve the mobility and function of the nervous system.
Soft Tissue Mobilization: A form of manual physical therapy where your licensed physical therapist uses hands-on techniques on your muscles, ligaments and fascia with the goal of breaking adhesions and optimizing your muscle function.