title: Immediate effects of cervical unilateral anterior-posterior mobilisation on shoulder pain and impairment in post-operative arthroscopy patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lateral gliding cervical spine mobilisation is shown to improve shoulder pain, disability and function. However, despite common clinical-use, no study reports the effect of unilateral anterior-posterior (A-P) cervical mobilisation on shoulder pain and function, and particularly in patients after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Examine the immediate effect of single-level Grade III cervical unilateral A-P mobilisation on shoulder pain, flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM) and external rotator strength compared to placebo cervical unilateral A-P light touch pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single session intervention with a crossover design in 32 (15 women) postoperative arthroscopic shoulder patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediate and superior treatment effects were shown for A-P cervical mobilisation in improving flexion ROM, isometric strength of external rotation, and pain intensity during flexion (all p< 0.05) when compared to the placebo. However, effects may not be considered clinically meaningful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unilateral A-P mobilisation applied to the cervical spine shows a tendency toward positively influencing post-arthroscopy shoulder pain and function. Further study examining cervical mobilisations directed in different planes to influence shoulder motion appear warranted.
authors.affiliation: Cantonal Hospital of Baselland/Bruderholz, CH-4201 Bruderholz, Switzerland.|Department of Health, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.|International Maitland Teachers Association (IMTA), Zurzach, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hauswirth
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.|Schaffhausen Cantonal Hospital, Geissbergstrasse 81, CH-8208 Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marianne Lanz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Preusser
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meichtry
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Institute of Physiotherapy, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.|Rehabilitation Centre Kliniken Valens, CH-7317 Valens, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D009333:Neck; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Shoulder arthroscopy; cervical spine mobilisation; isometric strength; pain; range of motion