Combined Effects of Mulligan's Mobilization With Movement and Kinetic Control Training on Pain, Range of Motion, Gait and Functional Disability Among Patients With Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Summary

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a frequent source of low back and pelvic pain and contributes significantly to movement restriction, altered gait patterns, and functional disability in adults. It is associated with impaired lumbopelvic motor control, weakness of key stabilizing muscles, and faulty load transfer across the pelvis. SIJD is prevalent in both physically active individuals and sedentary populations. In addition to its clinical impact, SIJD imposes a considerable socioeconomic burden due to reduced work productivity and long-term disability.

Contemporary management of SIJD emphasises on pain reduction, restoration of movement, functional independence, and participation in daily activities. Manual therapy techniques such as Mulligan's Mobilization with Movement (MWM) are widely used to correct positional faults and restore pain-free movement, while kinetic control training targets deficits in motor control of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles. Although both approaches are individually supported in the literature, evidence regarding their combined effectiveness on pain, range of motion, gait parameters, and functional disability remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effects of combined Mulligan's Mobilization with Movement and kinetic control training versus kinetic control training alone in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction using validated outcome measures.

Conditions

• Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Interventions

OTHER

Kinetic Control + Mobilization with Movement

Participants will receive baseline therapy consisting of superficial heating therapy followed by structured stretching and strengthening exercises for the sacroiliac joint and lumbar region on mat. Then Mulligan's MWM will be applied to the sacroiliac joint using sustained accessory glides combined with pain-free active movement. This will be followed by kinetic control training targeting the gluteus maximus and multifidus muscles. Gluteus maximus retraining will be performed in supported positions emphasising controlled hip extension with the knee flexed while maintaining lumbo-pelvic neutrality. Multifidus retraining will target the deep segmental lumbar extensors with contribution from the deep thoracic extensors. Training will begin in crook lying with a pillow or thick folded towel under the sacrum to elevate the pelvis and allow the lumbar spine to relax while thoracic spine remians neutral. Each session lasts 45 minutes. The intervention will be delivered for 8 weeks.

OTHER

Mobilization with Movement

Participants will receive baseline therapy consisting of superficial heating therapy followed by structured stretching and strengthening exercises for the sacroiliac joint and lumbar region on mat. Mulligan's MWM will be applied according to standard Mulligan principles. Participants will be classified as having anterior or posterior ilial rotation based on physical examination findings. For anterior rotation, a sustained posterior glide to the affected ilium with sacral stabilization will be applied during prone press-up. For posterior rotation, an anterolateral glide will be delivered over the posterior superior iliac spine with counter-pressure to the opposite ilium. Mobilization will be performed in non-weight-bearing for 3 sets of 10 repetitions per session, within a pain-free range, over 8 weeks (3 sessions/week).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

64 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-15

Primary Completion

2026-10-15

Completion

2026-10-15

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations