Efeitos do conceito Mulligan na dor e no comprometimento da mobilidade funcional e equilíbrio dinâmico no joelho de idosos

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly people are subjected to physiological changes due to the aging process. The occurrence of musculoskeletal diseases becomes more frequent and can impact functional capacity owing to pain, decreased balance and mobility. Mulligan's intra-articular mobilization technique makes it possible to reduce or eliminate pain during movement, enabling its use in musculoskeletal injuries and joint dysfunctions. Objective: To evaluate the outcome of the Mulligan Mobilization with Movement Technique (MWM) on pain and impairment of functional mobility and dynamic balance in elderly people with knee joint dysfunction. Methodology: This is an quasi-experimental and descriptive study, carried out with 40 elderly people living in the city of Goiânia. Participants were subjected to visual analogue scale of pain, Timed Up and Go test and the Y Balance Test, in order to assess pain, functional mobility and dynamic balance, respectively. The Mulligan MWM technique was applied in a single session, with evaluation performed before and after the intervention. A significance level of 5% (p<0,05) was adopted. Results: The average age of participants was 66,43 years (±6,03), regarding gender, 72,5% were women and 27,5% men. There was a significant decrease in pain intensity (p<0,001), as well as an improvement in functional mobility (p<0,001) and dynamic balance of the lower limbs (p<0,001). Conclusion: The use of the Mulligan concept technique in the knee joint resulted in considerable improvement of pain, functional mobility and dynamic balance of the lower limb bilaterally, establishing an important role in the physical therapy treatment of elderly people with knee joint disorders.