With the
gradual process of aging, with short-term hospitalization, with a disease
process, or with an injury, you or your loved ones may experience weakness and
observe more and more limitations of the use of your muscles and
extremities. It is at this point where
range of motion exercises will become more important than ever to restore and
preserve your level of functioning. They
always say, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.”
Range of
motion (ROM) is the term that refers to the amount of movement you have in each
joint. Every joint in the body has a
range of motion that is considered “normal.”
However, the amount of movement in a joint will vary greatly between
individuals. ROM exercises are different
exercises that are completed to preserve flexibility and mobility of the joints
on which they are performed. These
exercises will serve to reduce stiffness and will prevent or in a sense, slow
down, the freezing of your joints that may occur as the result of a disease
process, or as you tend to move less often.
Joints maintain their normal ROM simply by being moved, so if your
movement is compromised, the ROM of the joint will gradually decline. The decline in ROM may cause stiffness, which
can make it more difficult to complete the activities you do on a daily
basis. Plus, if range of motion in
joints has declined and if they are suddenly used, the individual may
experience pain. It is very important to
move your joints each and every day to maintain your optimal ROM to prevent
pain and stiffness.
Physical
therapists are the licensed professionals that most generally perform ROM
exercises, or they may teach other licensed professionals to perform the ROM
exercises safely in their absence.
Physical therapists measure range of motion in a joint with an instrument
called a goniometer. This instrument
measures joint ROM in degrees from its starting position.
Usually,
ROM is the range of flexion and extension of the joints in your body. Extension is a physical position that
decreases the angle between the bones of the limb at a joint. It occurs when muscles contract and bones
move the joint into a bent position. The
opposite movement is flexion, which bends the joint so that the joint angle
shortens. An injury to the soft tissue
surrounding a joint often will reduce ROM due to swelling and tissue damage,
such as a sprained ankle. Therefore,
regaining ROM in a joint is one of the first phases of injury
rehabilitation. Physical therapists will
often prescribe specific ROM exercises for each joint according to how they are
affected. The pain an individual is
experiencing must be managed effectively first to ensure the best possible
participation and outcomes from the exercises.
Other terms
you may hear related to range of motion exercises are abduction, adduction, inversion,
eversion, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.
Abduction is the movement of a joint away from the midline of the
body. Adduction is the movement of a
joint more toward the midline of the body.
Inversion and eversion are ROM exercises used for the feet. Inversion involves turning the sole of the
foot medially, toward the midline of the body.
Eversion involves turning the sole of the foot laterally, away from the
midline of the body. Dorsiflexion and
plantar flexion are used as ROM exercises for the ankle. Dorsiflexion involves moving the foot so that
the toes are pointing upward, as you may do to stop a door from closing. Plantar flexion involves moving the foot so
the toes are pointing downward, as you may do to plant something in your
garden. Those ROM exercises are just a
handful of what you may be asked to perform depending upon you situation. Your physical therapist will evaluate you
thoroughly to develop a plan of ROM exercises that will restore and allow you
to regain your most optimal level of functioning.
Total
Home Health has a program available for those that require range of motion exercises.
Skilled visits will be performed by licensed professionals in your home for you
so that you may complete these exercises according to your plan of care. Total Home Health professionals will
accompany you in your journey so that you may regain independence in your daily
life without pain and suffering.
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