Range of Motion Exercises
The more you understand your body and how it functions, the better equipped you'll be at taking care of yourself to achieve optimal health. Our team of physical therapists empower patients to take charge of your own health and future, educating you about your condition to decrease your need for future care. We've included the Patient Education section on our website to provide you with valuable, practical wellness information which you can incorporate into your lifestyle to improve the quality of your life. We hope you will turn to these pages whenever you have a question about health related issues and urge you to contact our practice.
Range of motion refers to the distance and direction a joint moves between a flexed (bent) position and an extended (stretched) position. It also refers to therapeutic exercises designed to increase this distance in a joint's movement.
A number of health issues contribute to restricted range of motion, including:
- Problems with body mechanics
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Muscle spasms
- Infection
- Disease, such as arthritis
Range of motion is also one of the dimensions used in Functional Capacity Evaluations to measure and determine joint flexibility.
There are three types of range of motion exercises:
Passive Range of Motion (PROM): With PROM, the client applies no effort to move the joint, which is moved through a variety of stretching exercises by a physical therapist or with the help of equipment.
Active Assisted Range of Motion (AAROM): With AAROM, the client uses the muscles around a weak joint to complete stretching exercises with the help of a physical therapist or equipment.
Active Range of Motion (AROM): With AROM, the client performs stretching exercises, moving the muscles around a weak joint without any aid.