INTRODUCTION:

Definition: Range of Motion is the measurement of movement around a specific joint or body part.

Importance of Flexibility:

In order for a joint to have full range of motion, it must have good flexibility. Each joint has its own level of flexibility, expressed in degrees. Flexibility is the range of motion around a joint, and can refer to ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones, and joints.

Flexibility is important for general health, injury prevention, and even sports performance. Factors that may contribute to a lack in the range of motion could be pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints¹.

Fig: 01 Shows extension and flexion.

Types of Range of Motion:

There are three primary types of exercises specific to range of motion.

1. Passive range of motion is typically practiced on a joint that is inactive. The physical therapist may use this exercise on a client who is paralyzed or unable to mobilize a specific joint. This type of exercise can help prevent stiffness from occurring.

2. Active-assistive range of motion exercises is more progressive, intended for the client to perform movement around the joint, with some manual assistance from the physical therapist or from a strap or band. These exercises can often feel painful.

3. Active range of motion exercises are highly independent, performed solely by the client. The physical therapist's role may be simply to provide verbal cues.

Testing Your Range of Motion:

· To measure range of motion, physical therapists most commonly use a goniometer, which is an instrument that measures angle at a joint.

· Monometer show degrees of an angle from zero to 180 or 360 degrees and are available in different shapes and sizes for the unique joints in the human body.

While using a goniometer to measure knee flexion, the center of the tool will be at the side view of the knee joint, and the arms of the goniometer are aligned in the center of the long bones above and below the knee.

Fig: 02 Shows use of goniometer to measure knee flexion.

Other tools used to measure joint angle at extension and flexion are an inclinometer, which assists in measuring the spinal angle, or even a tape measure for various joints³.

What do I need to know about active range of motion exercises?

· Do the exercises your healthcare provider teaches you. Practice the exercises with your healthcare provider before you try them by yourself. Exercise every day.

· Do the exercises in the same order every time. Go from head to toe, to help you remember the series of moves. Start with neck stretches.

· Move slowly, gently, and smoothly. Avoid fast or jerky motions.

· Stop if you feel pain. It is normal to feel some discomfort at first.

· Neck exercises:

Starting position: You may sit or stand. Face forward. Your shoulders should be straight and relaxed.

· Head tilts, forward and back: Gently bow your head and try to touch your chin to your chest. Raise your chin back to the starting position. Tilt your head back as far as possible so you are looking up at the ceiling.

· Head tilts, side to side: Tilt your head to the side, bringing your ear toward your shoulder. Do not raise your shoulder to your ear.

· Head turns: Turn your head to look over your shoulder. Tilt your chin down and try to touch it to your shoulder. Do not raise your shoulder to your chin. Face forward again.

Fig.No:3 Shows neck flexion

Shoulder and elbow exercises:

Starting position: Stand or sit. Hold your arm straight down at your side. Face palms in toward your body. It is best to use a chair without arms if you are in a sitting position.

· Shoulder movement, up and down:

Raise your arm forward and then up over your head. Try to raise it so that your inner arm touches your ear. Bring your arm back down to your side. Bring it back as far as possible behind your body. Return your arm to the starting position⁴.

Fig.No:4 Shows elbow exercises

· Shoulder movement, side to side:

Raise your arm to the side and then up over your head as far as possible. Return your arm to your side. Bring your arm across the front of your body and reach for the opposite shoulder. Return your arm to the starting position.

Fig.No:5 Shows shoulder exercises

· Shoulder rotation:

Raise both shoulders up toward your ears, as if you were trying to shrug. Lower them to the starting position, and relax your shoulders. Pull your shoulders back. Then relax them again. Roll your shoulders in a smooth circle.

Fig.No:6 Shows shoulder exercises

· Elbow bends: With your palm facing forward, bend your elbow. Try to touch your shoulder with your fingertips. Return your arm to the starting position.

Fig.No:7 Show elbow exercises

Arm and wrist exercises:

Starting position:

Sit down. Bend your elbow and rest your forearm on a flat surface, such as a table or your lap. Make sure your wrist hangs loosely over the side.

· Wrist bends:

Bend your hand back toward your wrist so that your fingers point toward the ceiling. Then bend your hand down so that your fingers point toward the floor.

· Wrist rotation:

Move your hand from side to side. Then roll your hand in circles in one direction. Roll your hand in circles in the other direction.

· Palm up, palm down:

Stay in the same position, but tuck your bent elbow against your side. Face your palm down. Turn your palm so that it faces up toward the ceiling. Then turn your palm so it faces down.

Hand and finger exercises:

Starting position:

Sit or stand. Place your hand out in front of you.

· Finger bends:

Make a tight fist. Then open and relax your hand.

Fig.No:8 Shows hand and finger exercises

· Finger spreads: Open your hand and stretch the fingers as far apart as possible. Bring your fingers together again.

· Finger-to-thumb touches: One at a time, touch each fingertip to the pad of your thumb.

· Thumb-to-palm stretches: Move your thumb and rest it across your palm. Move it out to the side again.

Hip and knee exercises:

Starting position:

If you have had a hip injury or surgery, only do the hip exercises directed by your healthcare provider. Lie flat on the bed with your legs flat and straight.

· Hip and knee bends: Point your toes. Slowly bend your knee up as close to your chest as possible. Straighten your leg and return it to a flat position on the bed.

· Leg lifts: Raise your leg so that your foot is 6 to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) off the bed. Hold it in the air for a few seconds. Return your leg to the bed⁴.

Fig.No:9 Shows hip and knee exercises.

· Leg movement, side to side: Flex your foot so your toes point up toward the ceiling. Move your leg out to the side as far as possible. Bring your leg back to the middle.

· Leg rotation, in and out: Put your leg flat on the bed. Roll your leg toward the middle so your big toe touches the bed. Then roll your leg out and try to make your smallest to touch the bed.

· Knee rotation, in and out: Lie on your back on the bed. Bend your knee so the bottom of your foot is flat on the bed. Slide your heel towards your buttocks. Return your foot to the starting position.

Ankle and foot exercises:

Starting position:

Sit in a chair with both feet flat on the floor.

· Ankle bends:

Keep your toes on the floor and raise your heel as high as you can. Lower your heel. Then keep your heel on the floor and raise your toes as high as you can.

· Ankle rotation:

Raise your foot slightly off the floor. Roll your ankle in circles. Then roll your ankle in circles in the other direction.

· Toe bends:

Curl your toes down toward the sole. Straighten them. Curl them up toward the ceiling. Then straighten them again.

· Toe spreads:

Spread your toes apart. Bring them together again².

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

None

FUNDING:

Self

ETHICAL CLEARANCE:

Not required

CONCLUSION:

Range of Motion is the measurement of movement around a specific joint or body part.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I would like to thank my parents and P P Savani University.

REFERENCES:

1. http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-range-of-motion-rom-definition-types-testing-exercises.html

2. https://www.drugs.com/cg/active-range-of-motion-exercises.html

3. "Range of motion exercise - definition of range of motion exercise in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2017-10-01.

4. "Passive Range Of Motion Exercises - Care Guide". Drugs.com. Retrieved 2017-10-04.

Received on 04.10.2017 Modified on 08.12.2017

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2018; 6(1): 126-129.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2018.00030.3