How to Find the Passive Range of Motion

When referring to your body, range of motion is the ability of your joints to extend and contract fully. Full range of motion is necessary to perform typical daily tasks such as getting dressed, brushing your hair and bathing. When a joint becomes injured, you might experience partial loss of your range of motion. Your passive range of motion is how far the joint can move when manipulated by an assistant. According to Michael A. Pagliarulo P.T., author of "Introduction to Physical Therapy," measuring your passive range of motion allows you to track progress when healing a joint and improving flexibility.

Things You'll Need

• Goniometer
• Physical therapist

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Instructions

• 1

  Make an appointment with your physical therapist or health care professional. According to Steve Vickery and Marilyn Moffat, authors of "The American Physical Therapy Association Book of Body Maintenance and Repair," only a trained professional should be trusted to help you find your passive range of motion. Tell them of your injury and any other physical conditions that might have damaged your range of motion.

• 2

  Relax the muscles surrounding the injured area of your body. Your physical therapist will need to move the joint though its range of motion. If you do not relax the area, you risk causing further injury and obtaining an inaccurate measurement. As your therapist moves the joint, resist any urge to help them as this defeats the purpose of the test.

• 3

  Allow your therapist to hold your joint in place. An assistant will use an angle-measuring tool, called a goniometer, to measure the joint's passive range of motion. Write down the angle recorded; this is your passive range of motion.

• 4

  Move the joint by your own volition this time and hold it in place as an assistant takes the measurement for your standard range of motion. Write this number down.

• 5

  Compare the two numbers. According to Susan B. O'Sullivan and Thomas J. Schmitz, authors of "Physical Rehabilitation," if your passive range of motion angle differs from your standard range of motion, you will need to perform stretches over time to reach your full range of motion. Your physical therapist can prescribe stretches to help you.