The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Ankle sprains are common injuries that cause pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion (ROM), adversely affecting physical activity. In this study, we aim to review the effectiveness of mobilization with movement (MWM) in improving outcomes for patients with ankle sprains. Meth...

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Main Authors: Mohamed M. ElMeligie, Heba A. Abdeen, Hady Atef, Elena Marques-Sule, Rania N. Karkosha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01121-6
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author Mohamed M. ElMeligie
Heba A. Abdeen
Hady Atef
Elena Marques-Sule
Rania N. Karkosha
author_facet Mohamed M. ElMeligie
Heba A. Abdeen
Hady Atef
Elena Marques-Sule
Rania N. Karkosha
author_sort Mohamed M. ElMeligie
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ankle sprains are common injuries that cause pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion (ROM), adversely affecting physical activity. In this study, we aim to review the effectiveness of mobilization with movement (MWM) in improving outcomes for patients with ankle sprains. Methods We conducted a search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, Web of Science, and Scopus up to October 2023 for English trials comparing Mulligan MWM with other treatments. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB 2) was used for quality assessment, and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochrane’s Q and I2 statistics. Results A total of 10 trials involving 419 patients (209 in the MWM group and 210 controls) were included. The overall risk of bias was low. MWM significantly reduced pain (MD = - 0.92; 95% CI:[- 1.37, - 0.46]; P < 0.0001) and improved ankle ROM (SMD = 1.65; 95% CI:[0.17, 3.14]; P = 0.03). MWM also demonstrated superior performance in the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) (MD = 3.15; 95% CI:[1.44, 4.86]; P = 0.0003) and Y Balance Test (MD = 4.69; 95% CI:[1.67, 7.70]; P = 0.02). However, no significant differences were found in pain pressure threshold (SMD = - 0.10; 95% CI:[- 0.59, 0.39]; P = 0.7), stiffness perception (MD = 0.10; 95% CI:[- 0.64, 0.85]; P = 0.79), or peroneus longus latency time (MD = - 12.85; 95% CI:[- 22.08, - 3.63]; P = 0.006). The quality evaluation showed that the majority of RCTs revealed some concerns, except of two studies that established a low risk of bias. The GRADE assessment classified the overall evidence as low or very low, due to imprecision, risk of bias, and inconsistency. Conclusions MWM significantly reduced pain and improved ROM and WBLT scores in patients with ankle sprains. The MWM group also showed enhanced balance in the posterolateral SEBT compared to controls.
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spelling doaj-art-e7aa256f22df41dc826158aa69c93fcb2025-08-20T02:55:27ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472025-04-0117111510.1186/s13102-025-01121-6The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysisMohamed M. ElMeligie0Heba A. Abdeen1Hady Atef2Elena Marques-Sule3Rania N. Karkosha4Department of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Ahram Canadian UniversityPhysical Therapy Department for Cardiovascular, Respiratory Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo UniversityPhysical Therapy Department for Cardiovascular, Respiratory Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo UniversityPhysiotherapy in Motion, Multispeciality Research Group (Ptinmotion), University of ValenciaDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo UniversityAbstract Background Ankle sprains are common injuries that cause pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion (ROM), adversely affecting physical activity. In this study, we aim to review the effectiveness of mobilization with movement (MWM) in improving outcomes for patients with ankle sprains. Methods We conducted a search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, Web of Science, and Scopus up to October 2023 for English trials comparing Mulligan MWM with other treatments. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB 2) was used for quality assessment, and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochrane’s Q and I2 statistics. Results A total of 10 trials involving 419 patients (209 in the MWM group and 210 controls) were included. The overall risk of bias was low. MWM significantly reduced pain (MD = - 0.92; 95% CI:[- 1.37, - 0.46]; P < 0.0001) and improved ankle ROM (SMD = 1.65; 95% CI:[0.17, 3.14]; P = 0.03). MWM also demonstrated superior performance in the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) (MD = 3.15; 95% CI:[1.44, 4.86]; P = 0.0003) and Y Balance Test (MD = 4.69; 95% CI:[1.67, 7.70]; P = 0.02). However, no significant differences were found in pain pressure threshold (SMD = - 0.10; 95% CI:[- 0.59, 0.39]; P = 0.7), stiffness perception (MD = 0.10; 95% CI:[- 0.64, 0.85]; P = 0.79), or peroneus longus latency time (MD = - 12.85; 95% CI:[- 22.08, - 3.63]; P = 0.006). The quality evaluation showed that the majority of RCTs revealed some concerns, except of two studies that established a low risk of bias. The GRADE assessment classified the overall evidence as low or very low, due to imprecision, risk of bias, and inconsistency. Conclusions MWM significantly reduced pain and improved ROM and WBLT scores in patients with ankle sprains. The MWM group also showed enhanced balance in the posterolateral SEBT compared to controls.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01121-6Mobilization with movementManual therapyMulligan tapingAnkle sprainsSystematic reviewMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Mohamed M. ElMeligie
Heba A. Abdeen
Hady Atef
Elena Marques-Sule
Rania N. Karkosha
The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
Mobilization with movement
Manual therapy
Mulligan taping
Ankle sprains
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
title The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short The effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effectiveness of mulligan mobilization with movement mwm on outcomes of patients with ankle sprain a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Mobilization with movement
Manual therapy
Mulligan taping
Ankle sprains
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01121-6
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