Peripheral Mobilisations can be performed at the majority of joints and spinal mobilisation is performed to the various joint and articulations of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions. The therapist aims to encourage joint motion by passively moving the joint within or to the limit of its normal range of motion. The therapist’s movement of the joint is very precise and is limited by the amount of joint play, which the therapist will have subjectively assessed and confirmed through clearance tests.

Physiological mobilisations are the available movements at each joint and be used as an effective rehabilitation tool. Accessory movement, are the subtle joint movements not consciously performed by an individual joint. In essence they assist normal physiological movement by facilitating sliding, gliding, spinning or rolling within the joint. Accessory movements are often an important consideration of treatment, especially where joint stiffness is the overriding complaint.