Comparison of Aquatic and Land-Based Mulligan Mobilization With Movement in Knee Osteoarthritis

April 30, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Comparison of Aquatic and Land-Based Mulligan Mobilization With Movement on Pain, and Function in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

This study aims to compare the effects of aquatic and land-based Mulligan mobilization with movement in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, with particular focus on their impact on pain and functional outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study aims to compare the effects of aquatic and land-based Mulligan mobilization with movement in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Specifically, it will examine and compare the impact of both intervention approaches on pain intensity and functional ability. By evaluating these outcomes, the study seeks to determine whether the aquatic environment offers additional therapeutic benefits over land-based treatment, thereby contributing to improved functional performance and overall quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

66

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 40-65 years
  • Bilateral knee osteoarthritis diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology Clinical Classification system for at least 1 year
  • Kellgren & Lawrence grade 2 and 3
  • Able to walk independently/unaided

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active participation in gyms, pool(swimming), or any other physical activity
  • Intra-articular corticosteroid injections in the last 3 months or hyaluronic knee injection in the last 6 months.
  • History of lower limb trauma/surgery, presence of fracture or lower limb deformity, or planned surgery within the study period
  • Any diagnosed severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, or psychological disease/impairment.
  • Individuals with aquaphobia (fear of water), discomfort performing aquatic exercises, or allergy/sensitivity to chlorine or other pool treatment chemicals.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Aquatic Mobilization with Movement
Mulligan Mobilization with Movement will be administered in the aquatic environment using a belt, following identification of the most pain-free glide in addition to stretches and strengthening of lower limb. The technique will be performed for 10 repetitions over 3 sets and will be progressively advanced from non-weight-bearing mobilization to mobilization with overpressure, and subsequently to weight-bearing mobilization as tolerated by the patient.
Other: Aquatic Mobilization with Movement
This intervention group will receive treatment for four weeks inside the pool, in addition to the conventional knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation protocol.
Other: Land Mobilization with Movement
Mulligan Mobilization with Movement will be administered on land using a belt, following identification of the most pain-free glide, in addition to stretches and strengthening of the lower limb. The technique will be performed for 10 repetitions over 3 sets and will be progressively advanced from non-weight-bearing mobilization to mobilization with overpressure, and subsequently to weight-bearing mobilization as tolerated by the patient.
Other: Land Mobilization with Movement
This intervention group will receive treatment for four weeks on land, in addition to the conventional knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a straightforward and reliable method for evaluating pain on a continuous visual range.The extreme limits of pain are represented by the straight line's ends, where 0 indicates no pain, and 10 indicates the worst pain a person has ever felt.
4 weeks
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
It is used to assess activities of daily living, functional mobility, gait, general health, and quality of life. It has 24 items divided into 3 subscales: pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function (17 items). The scores range from 0 to 4 for each subscale. The score ranges from 0 to 96, where zero indicates no pain, stiffness, and functional limitation. Higher scores indicate worse pain, stiffness, and functional limitation.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Range of Motion of Knee
Time Frame: 4 weeks
A Goniometer is used to measure active and passive range of motion for knee flexion and extension while the patient is lying on their back.
4 weeks
Time Up and Go (TUG)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The Timed Up and Go test is a widely used measure of functional mobility in patients. Two trials are performed, with the fastest time recorded to the nearest 0.1 second. A shorter time indicates better functional performance.
4 weeks
Intrinsic Motivational Inventory (IMI)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
It is a multidimensional scale used to measure intrinsic motivation for personalized fitness program. The subscales of Interest/Enjoyment (IENJ), Perceived Competence (COMP), Effort/Importance (EIMP), and Tension/Pressure (TENP) will be used for the study. Each item will be rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7. Higher scores of interest/enjoyment, perceived competence, effort/importance indicate better outcomes, while worse outcomes are indicated by increased scores or tension/pressure.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Suman Sheraz, PhD, Riphah International University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 16, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 30, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Fatima Shabbir

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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