The arc of motion that a joint allows when it is normal can easily be measured and observed; therefore abnormalities in joints and joint function can be assessed by loss of motion. Measuring this loss helps to quantify the patient’s deficits.
Range of motion can be assessed as either active or passive. When doing active range of motion assessment, the patient uses their own muscle power to demonstrate the maximum arc of motion.
The muscles around any given joint provide a range of flexion, extension, rotation, and deviation which is inherent to each particular joint. When measuring ROM, we measure by either visual assessment or by a goiniometer.
It is critical to compare measurements to the contralateral joint to determine a baseline and assess for deficits if any.
| Approximate Normal Ranges of Motion (Active) |
| JOINT | | MOTION | DEGREES |
| Elbow | | Flexion | 135+° |
| | Extension | 0° to -5° |
| | Supination | 90° |
| | Pronation | 90° |
| Wrist | | Flexion | 80° |
| | Extension | 70° |
| | Ulnar deviation | 30° |
| | Radial deviation | 20° |
| Finger | MCP | Flexion | 90° |
| | Extension | 30° - 45° |
| PIP | Flexion | 100° |
| | Extension | 0° |
| DIP | Flexion | 90° |
| | Extension | 20° |
| Finger | Abduction | 20° |
| | Adduction | 0° |
| Thumb | Abduction | 70° |
| | Adduction | 0° |
*All measurements are assuming that neutral is 0 degrees of motion. Some patients may exhibit hyperextension (extension) as a baseline rather than 0. In these situations, we are recommending that the hyperextension be recorded as extension again from neutral at 0 degrees.
