Effects of Gong's mobilization in the side-lying position on shoulder abduction

[Purpose] This purpose of this study was to verify the effects on shoulder abduction ROM of Gong's mobilization applied to patients in the sitting position and in the side-lying position. [Subjects] This study recruited male and female adults whose shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM) was 120 degrees or less and separated them into Gong's Mobilization in the side-lying position group (side-lying group, n=20) and Gong's Mobilization in the sitting position group (sitting group, n=20). [Methods] Gong's mobilization was applied repetitively about 10-15 times on each individual in both the side-lying and sitting groups. A goniometer was used to measure the shoulder abduction ROM. [Results] In both the side-lying group and the sitting group shoulder abduction ROM increased, and the increase of ROM in the side-lying group was greater. [Conclusion] The treatment effect of Gong's mobilization applied to patients in the side-lying position was greater than that of Gong's mobilization applied to patients in the sitting position; thus, the side- lying position is the proper therapeutic position for Gong's mobilization for patients whose abduction hypomobility.