What is the Mulligan concept?
The Mulligan concept is an approach to manual therapy that offers manual therapeutic techniques for the spine and extremity joints.
This approach was developed by Brian Mulligan in the 1980s, after he accidentally discovered Mobilization With Movement (MWM) while treating a patient who had injured a finger playing basketball.
The main indications for treatment according to Mulligan are essentially movements limited by pain. The therapeutic goal is to increase joint range of motion and reduce pain.
Clinical research plays an increasingly important role in the Mulligan concept, which enjoys growing recognition in English-speaking countries.
What are its principles?
The fundamental principles that define the Mulligan concept encompass a clinical approach where the therapist, relying primarily on the patient's complaints, places less importance on biomechanical principles and injured structures. Mobilization techniques are incorporated, such as Mobilized Movements (MWM) and Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAG and NAG) to address movement limitations caused by pain.
The direction in which the therapist passively mobilizes a joint is not dictated by biomechanical laws but by the comfort of the patient.
The Mulligan Concept focuses on improving range of motion, reducing pain, and improving functionality in musculoskeletal disorders, through painless techniques based on biomechanical and neurophysiological principles.
These techniques aim to restore active movement, particularly in cases of unidirectional limitations and dysfunctions localized to a vertebral segment.
The Mulligan approach is characterized by its patient-centeredness, encouraging self-efficacy and autonomy, and favoring the transition from passive to active treatments, for a return to normal function. To support the benefits achieved, taping is often used to maintain corrections, and specific exercises are recommended to reinforce the results and ensure continuity of home care.
What scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of the Mulligan concept?
Several scientific articles have been published, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Mulligan Concept in reputable international journals.
You will find in the document below a large number of studies carried out. 👇
Ultimately, the diversity of applications of the Mulligan Concept makes it a valuable tool , making it possible to respond in a more efficient and personalized manner to the specific needs of patients.
Furthermore, Mulligan's techniques, being non-invasive and actively involving the patient in treatment, align perfectly with the biopsychosocial and patient-centered approach that is increasingly favored in modern clinical practice.
Mulligan Concept training provides an excellent professional development opportunity, offering practitioners the chance to stay at the forefront of their field while broadening their career prospects.
Moreover, Mulligan Concept training is standardized and is aimed only at health professionals. This requirement guarantees a high standard of training for physiotherapists interested in this concept.
Finally, with the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in an aging population, it becomes essential to have effective and gentle treatment techniques. The adoption of this concept can be seen as a crucial step towards a more effective, “patient-centered” and scalable healthcare practice .
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