Immediate Effect of Passive Joint Mobilizations on Hand Reaction: A Randomized, Single-Blind Study

Abstract

Reaction time is a measure of neuromuscular performance and motor function. The capacity for rapid response is linked to enhanced performance in a range of areas, including gaming, academic pursuits, the visual and performing arts, martial arts, and personal protection. The purpose of this single-center, parallel, randomized-controlled study was to investigate the immediate effect of passive joint mobilization (PJM) on hand reaction time (HRT) in healthy subjects. The study population consisted of 351 subjects, including hospital staff and university students. Seventy-six people who met the eligibility criteria were included and 66 of them completed the study. Participants were randomly allocated to either passive mobilization (PM) group or sham mobilization (SM) group. In the PM group, participants received a glide at the wrist, first metacarpophalangeal joint (1st MCP), and carpometacarpal joint (CMC). Participants in the SM group maintained a fixed position in which their joints were tactilely stimulated by pinching and releasing rather than gliding. The ruler drop test was used to assess hand response before and immediately after the applications. HRT was significantly decreased in both groups compared to the pre-intervention period (p < 0.05). Although small effect sizes were observed in both groups, the effect size in the PM group (d, 0.285) was greater than in the SM group (d, 0.179). Passive joint mobilization represents an efficacious technique when immediate reduction of reaction time is required in healthy subjects. (NCT06168747).