Pamela Teys

Previous research suggests that Mulligan’s Mobilisation-with-Movement (MWM) technique for the shoulder produces an immediate improvement in movement and pain. The aims of this study were to investigate the time course of the effects of a single MWM technique and to ascertain the effects of adding tape following MWM in people with shoulder pain.

25 patients who responded positively to an initial application of MWM, were randomly assigned to MWM or MWM-with-Tape. Range of movement (ROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and current pain severity (VAS) were measured pre- and post-intervention, 30-min, 24-h and one week follow-up. Following a one-week washout period, participants were crossed over to receive a single session of the opposite intervention with follow-up measures repeated. ROM significantly improved with MWM-with-Tape and was sustained over one week follow-up and in VAS up to 30-min follow-up. MWM demonstrated an improvement in ROM and VAS, but only up to 30-min follow-up.

There was no significant improvement in PPT for either intervention at any time point. MWM-with-Tape significantly improved ROM over the one-week follow-up compared to MWM alone. Both MWM and MWM-with-Tape provide a short-lasting improvement in pain and ROM, and MWM-with-Tape also provides a sustained improvement in ROM to one-week follow-up, which is superior to MWM alone. This paper is limited by methodological flaws.

From: Teys et al. One-week time course of the effects of Mulligan’s Mobilisation with Movement and taping in painful shoulders. Manual Therapy
Volume 18, Issue 5 , Pages 372-377, October 2013

Abstract

Previous research suggests that Mulligan’s Mobilisation-with-Movement (MWM) technique for the shoulder produces an immediate improvement in movement and pain. The aims of this study were to investigate the time course of the effects of a single MWM technique and to ascertain the effects of adding tape following MWM in people with shoulder pain. Twenty-five participants (15 males, 10 females), who responded positively to an initial application of MWM, were randomly assigned to MWM or MWM-with-Tape. Range of movement (ROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and current pain severity (PVAS) were measured pre- and post-intervention, 30-min, 24-h and one week follow-up. Following a one-week washout period, participants were crossed over to receive a single session of the opposite intervention with follow-up measures repeated. ROM significantly improved with MWM-with-Tape and was sustained over one week follow-up (p < 0.001; 18.8°, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 7.3–30.4), and in PVAS up to 30-min follow-up (38.4 mm, 95% CI 20.6–56.1 mm). MWM demonstrated an improvement in ROM (11.8°, 95% CI 1.9–21.7) and PVAS (40.4 mm, 95% CI 27.8–53.0 mm), but only up to 30-min follow-up. There was no significant improvement in PPT for either intervention at any time point. MWM-with-Tape significantly improved ROM over the one-week follow-up compared to MWM alone (15.9°, 95% CI 7.4–24.4). Both MWM and MWM-with-Tape provide a short-lasting improvement in pain and ROM, and MWM-with-Tape also provides a sustained improvement in ROM to one-week follow-up, which is superior to MWM alone.