Hip & PelvisMaitland Joint MobilizationGeneral regional overview
PNA Regional Principles · Overview
Hip & Pelvis — Joint Mobilization
What changes when Maitland Joint Mobilization meets the hip & pelvis? Start with the patient's movement, assess safely, and see what the re-test reveals.
2 specific variationsClinical re-test built in
Important: this is a clinical framework, not a complete technique protocol.
This page was generated from broader regional principles. It can help you frame assessment, patient comfort, safety and reassessment, but its generic positioning, contact and dosage text must not be treated as technique-specific hands-on instruction. Study a detailed, individually authored procedure and use supervised practical training.
Each variation below is written so you can follow patient setup, contact, direction, dose and the re-test that decides whether the technique earned a place in the plan.
01
Hip & PelvisFemoroacetabular joint
Hip Long-Axis Distraction
One question matters more than the name of this variation: will the patient notice a useful change in Hip flexion/rotation, gait and sit-to-stand.? The careful re-test gets the final word.
The change we are looking for
Reduce compression sensitivity and improve global hip movement tolerance.
Primary target
Femoroacetabular joint
The movement that tells us
Hip flexion/rotation, gait and sit-to-stand.
Patient focus
Reduce compression sensitivity and improve global hip movement tolerance.
Therapist verifies
Hip flexion/rotation, gait and sit-to-stand.
Success signal
Keep the technique only if the re-test shows a meaningful improvement in hip flexion/rotation, gait and sit-to-stand. without symptom worsening.
Full clinical application
1
Position the patient
Supine with hip near neutral or slight flexion/abduction as comfortable.
2
Set the contact
Stabilize the pelvis and hold the distal femur/leg with a secure broad grip.
3
Apply the technique
Apply smooth long-axis traction along the femoral shaft without jerking.
4
Dose & re-test
10–30 second holds × 3–5 or low-grade oscillatory traction. Re-test: Hip flexion/rotation, gait and sit-to-stand.
Clinical pearl
If the pelvis slides on the table, you are losing the joint-specific distraction.
Safety / avoid
Respect fracture risk and hip-replacement precautions.
02
Hip & PelvisFemoral head on acetabulum
Hip Posterior Glide
One question matters more than the name of this variation: will the patient notice a useful change in Hip flexion/internal rotation and squat.? The careful re-test gets the final word.
The change we are looking for
Improve selected hip flexion/internal-rotation restriction when posterior glide is helpful.
Primary target
Femoral head on acetabulum
The movement that tells us
Hip flexion/internal rotation and squat.
Patient focus
Improve selected hip flexion/internal-rotation restriction when posterior glide is helpful.
Therapist verifies
Hip flexion/internal rotation and squat.
Success signal
Keep the technique only if the re-test shows a meaningful improvement in hip flexion/internal rotation and squat. without symptom worsening.
Full clinical application
1
Position the patient
Supine with hip flexed to a comfortable treatment angle and pelvis stabilized.
2
Set the contact
Control the proximal femur through the distal thigh/knee while preventing pelvic rotation.
3
Apply the technique
Glide the femoral head posteriorly relative to the acetabulum using the selected Maitland grade.
4
Dose & re-test
30–60 seconds × 2–4 bouts. Re-test: Hip flexion/internal rotation and squat.
Clinical pearl
A quiet pelvis is essential; pelvic rolling can create a false ROM gain.
Safety / avoid
Avoid acute intra-articular injury or unstable postoperative state.
Safety / do not apply when…
Screen fracture, severe OA irritability, postoperative restrictions, acute inflammatory pathology and red-flag pelvic symptoms.
Stop or modify if symptoms peripheralize, neurological status worsens, the response is disproportionate or the patient asks to stop.
Clinical rule
A technically correct technique is not automatically a useful technique. Keep it only when the patient's pain, range or function improves in a clinically meaningful way, then transfer that gain into active movement, loading or self-management.
