Displacement of the head of humerus while performing “mobilization with movements” in glenohumeral joint: A cadaver study

The purpose of this study was to compare the displacement of the center of the humeral head (CHH), in a cadaveric glenohumeral joint model, during an experimental abduction simulation with and without the application of a mobilization with movement (MWM) maneuver in an anteroposterior direction. Ten physiotherapists performed passive abduction and a posteriorly directed MWM technique on a fresh cadaveric shoulder joint. The applied forces and joint angles were monitored and displacement of the CHH was calculated. In the abduction only trial, displacement of the humeral head was less than 0.9 mm in posterior, inferior, and lateral directions. During the MWM trial there were significant increases in the displacement of the humeral head posteriorly (7.7 mm), inferiorly (2.7 mm), and laterally (0.5 mm) below 52° of abduction. We suggest that the MWM technique may be effective in changing the joint kinematic characteristics during glenohumeral abduction. This hypothesis, however, would need to be tested in vivo with abduction performed actively.