Purpose: To increase mobility and decrease pain in the hip.  

Start:  Patient in supine.  The therapist stands near patient’s feet at bottom of plinth.

Procedure:  The therapist holds the patient’s leg with their hands slightly above the malleoli and lifts the patient’s leg off table into slight hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation.  The therapist provides an inferior traction/distraction force until end range is felt. At end range, the therapist provides a HVLA thrust further in the direction of inferior traction.  

Comments:  The patient should not slide inferiorly on the table.  If necessary, the PT can hook the patient to the table using a belt to prevent sliding.  For larger patients, PT can use a belt wrapped around shoulders to assist in gripping patient’s leg.