Range of Motion Summary

How do you measure hip flexion & extension ?

Hip flexion brings the knee upward toward the chest, decreasing the angle at the hip joint.

Hip extension moves the thigh backward away from the torso, increasing the angle at the hip joint.

• Position: Thigh moves forward from a neutral position.

• Axis: Greater trochanter of the femur

• Moving Arm: Lateral epicondyle of the femur.

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the midaxillary of the trunk

How do you measure hip abduction & adduction?

Hip abduction lifts the thigh laterally away from the midline of the body.

Hip adduction brings the thigh closer to the midline of the body.

• Position: Thigh moves laterally from a neutral position.

• Axis: Over the ASIS of the side being measured

• Moving Arm: Towards midline of the patella.

• Stationary Arm: Along the line that joins the other ASIS.

How do you measure hip internal & external rotation?

Hip internal rotation turns the thigh inward toward the midline of the body.

Hip external rotation turns the thigh outward away from the midline of the body.

• Position: Thigh rotates medially from a neutral position or Thigh rotates laterally from a neutral position.

• Axis: Midpoint of the patella

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the anterior midline of the tibia

• Stationary Arm: Perpendicular to the floor

How do you measure knee flexion & extension?

Knee flexion decreases the angle between the lower leg and the thigh.

Knee extension increases the angle between the lower leg and the thigh.

• Position: Lower leg moves upward or downward towards the thigh.

• Axis: Lateral epicondyle of the femur

• Moving Arm: towards lateral malleolus

• Stationary Arm: towards the greater trochanter

How do you measure ankle dorsiflexion & plantar flexion?

Ankle dorsiflexion brings the toes closer to the shins, decreasing the angle at the ankle joint.

Ankle plantarflexion points the toes downward, increasing the angle at the ankle joint.

• Position: Foot moves upwards towards or downwards away from the shin.

• Axis: Inferior to lateral malleolus.

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the sole of the heel

• Stationary Arm: Pointing toward the head of the fibula

How do you measure ankle inversion & eversion?

Ankle inversion tilts the sole of the foot towards the midline of the body.

• Position: Foot rolls inward during the movement or foot rolls outward during the movement.

• Axis: Superior aspect of the calcaneus

• Moving Arm: Posterior aspect of the calcaneus.

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the midline of the tibia

How do you measure shoulder flexion & extension ?

Shoulder flexion raises the arm forward, decreasing the angle between the arm and torso.

Shoulder extension moves the arm backward, increasing the angle between the arm and torso.

• Position: Arm moves forward from a resting position or arm moves backwards from a resting position.

• Axis: Acromion process

• Moving Arm: Lateral epicondyle

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the lateral midline of the trunk

How do you measure shoulder abduction & adduciton?

Shoulder abduction lifts the arm laterally away from the body.

Shoulder adduction brings the arm closer to the midline of the body.

• Position: Arm moves sideways from the neutral position or arm moves medially from a lateral position

• Axis: Coracoid process

• Moving Arm: Lateral epicondyle.

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the sternum

How do you measure shoulder internal & external rotation?

Shoulder internal rotation rotates the arm toward the body, decreasing the angle between the arm and torso.

Shoulder external rotation rotates the arm away from the body, increasing the angle between the arm and torso.

• Position: Arm moves inward from a neutral position.

• Axis: Olecranon process of the ulna

• Moving Arm: Ulnar styloid process

• Stationary Arm: Perpendicular to the floor

How do you measure shoulder horizontal abduction & adduciton?

Shoulder horizontal abduction moves the arm away from the front of the body to the side at shoulder height.

Shoulder horizontal adduction brings the arm toward the front of the body from the side.

• Position: Arm moves sideways from a forward flexed position or arm moves forward from a lateral position

• Axis: Acromion process

• Moving Arm: Lateral epicondyle

• Stationary Arm: perpendicular to the trunk

How do you measure elbow flexion & extension?

Elbow flexion decreases the angle between the forearm and the arm.

Elbow extension increases the angle between the forearm and the arm.

• Position: Forearm moves upward toward the upper arm or forearm moves downward away from the upper arm.

• Axis: Lateral epicondyle

• Moving Arm: Radial styloid process

• Stationary Arm: toward acromion process

How do you measure elbow supination & pronation?

Elbow supination rotates the forearm so the palm faces up or forward.

Elbow pronation rotates the forearm so the palm faces down or backward.

• Position: Forearm rotates outward from a pronated position or forearm rotates inward from a supinated position

• Axis: Head of the third metacarpal

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the pencil.

• Stationary Arm: Perpendicular to the floor

How do you measure wrist flexion & extension?

Wrist flexion decreases the angle between the palm and the forearm.

Wrist extension increases the angle between the back of the hand and the forearm.

• Position: Hand moves towards the forearm from a neutral position or hand moves away from the forearm in a neutral position.

• Axis: Ulnar styloid process

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the 5th metacarpal

• Stationary Arm: Longitudinal axis of the ulna

How do you measure wrist radial & ulnar deviation?

Wrist radial deviation moves the hand laterally towards the thumb side.

Wrist ulnar deviation moves the hand medially towards the little finger side.

• Position: Hand shifts toward the radius from a neutral position or hand shifts toward the ulna from a neutral positon

• Axis: Over the capitate bone

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the shaft of the 3rd metacarpal

• Stationary Arm: Along the midline of the forearm

How do you measure thumb CMC flexion & extension?

Thumb flexion brings the thumb across the palm of the hand.

Thumb extension moves the thumb away from the palm, returning to a neutral position.

• Position: Thumb moves towards the palm from an extended position or Thumb extension moves the thumb away from the palm, returning to a neutral

• Axis: CMC joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the 1st metacarpal

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the radius

How do you measure thumb MCP flexion & extension?

Thumb MCP flexion decreases the angle between the metacarpal and the proximal phalanx, while extension increases it.

• Position: Thumb bends at the metacarpophalangeal joint from a neutral position.

• Axis: Over the MCP joint.

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx.

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metacarpal.

How do you measure thumb IP flexion & extension?

Thumb IP flexion decreases the angle between the proximal and distal phalanges, while extension increases it.

• Position: Thumb bends at the interphalangeal joint from a neutral position.

• Axis: Posterior surface of the IP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal phalanx

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx.

How do you measure thumb CMC abduction & adduction?

Thumb abduction moves the thumb away from the index finger, laterally.

Thumb adduction brings the thumb back towards the index finger

• Position: Thumb shifts away from the palm in the plane of the palm or Thumb adduction brings the thumb back towards the index finger.

• Axis: Junction of the base of the 1st & 2nd metacarpals

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the 1st metacarpal

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the 2nd metacarpal

How do you measure finger MCP flexion & extension?

Finger flexion decreases the angle between the fingers and the palm.

Finger extension increases the angle between the fingers and the back of the hand.

• Position: Fingers bend towards the palm from an extended position or Fingers straighten from a flexed position

• Axis: Posterior aspect of the MCP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metacarpal

How do you measure finger MCP abduction & adduction?

Finger abduction moves the fingers away from the middle finger.

Finger adduction brings the fingers back towards the middle finger.

• Position: Fingers shift laterally away from the midline of the hand or Fingers shift medially toward the midline of the hand from an abducted position

• Axis: Posterior surface of the MCP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis fo the proximal phalanx

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metacarpal

How do you measure toe MTP flexion & extension?

Toe flexion decreases the angle between the toes and the foot.

Toe extension increases the angle between the toes and the top of the foot.

• Position: Toes bend towards the sole of the foot from an extended position or Toes straighten from a flexed position.

• Axis: Dorsum of the first MTP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx of the great toe

• Stationary Arm: parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first metatarsal

How do you measure toe IP flexion & extension?

Toe IP flexion decreases the angle at the interphalangeal joints of the toes, while extension increases it.

• Position: Toes flex or extend from a neutral position.

• Axis: Dorsal aspect of the IP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal aspect of the distal phalanx

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx

How do you measure toe MTP abduction & adduction?

Toe abduction moves the toes away from the midline of the foot.

Toe adduction brings the toes back towards the midline of the foot.

• Position: Toes shift laterally away from the second toe or Toes shift medially towards the second toe from an abducted position

• Axis: Dorsum of the first MTP joint

• Moving Arm: Parallel axis of the proximal phalanx of the great toe

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the 1st metatarsal

How do you measure cervical flexion & extension?

Cervical flexion decreases the angle between the chin and the chest.

Cervical extension increases the angle between the chin and the chest

• Position: Chin moves towards the chest from a neutral position or chin moves away from the chest towards the ceiling from a neutral position

• Moving Arm: TM- Tip of the chin, I - Top of the head

• Stationary Arm: TM - Suprasternal notch, I - T1 of the spine

How do you measure cervical lateral flexion?

Cervical lateral flexion moves the head towards the shoulder.

• Position: Head tilts sideways from a neutral position.

• Moving Arm: TM- lateral aspect of the acromion process, I- top of the head

• Stationary Arm: TM- Mastoid process, I - Inferior to T1 of the spine

How do you measure cervical rotation?

Cervical rotation turns the head to the left or right.

• Position: Head rotates away from the neutral position.

• Axis: Runs vertically through the centre of the head.

• Moving Arm: TM - lateral aspect of the acromion process, I - Midline at the base of the forehead

• Stationary Arm: TM - Tip of chin

How do you measure thoracolumbar flexion & extension ?

Thoracolumbar flexion decreases the angle between the trunk and the thighs.

Thoracolumbar extension increases the angle between the trunk and the thighs

• Position: Torso bends forward from a neutral position or Torso moves backward from a flexed position to neutral.

• Moving Arm: TM: Between C7 & C2. Minus the original measurement. I - placement over the spines of C7

• Stationary Arm: TM - Between C7 & S2. I - Placement over the spines S2

How do you measure thoracolumbar lateral flexion?

Thoracolumbar lateral flexion moves the trunk sideways towards the hips.

• Position: Torso bends laterally from a neutral position.

• Moving Arm: TM - Tip of the third digit & the floor I - on the spine of T1

• Stationary Arm: I - Inferior of the Spine S2

How do you measure thoracolumbar rotation?

Thoracolumbar rotation turns the trunk to the left or right.

• Position: Torso rotates in the transverse plane from a neutral position.

• Moving Arm: Difference between the start and the end position.

• Stationary Arm: Upper point of the iliac crest of the acromion process on the opposite side

How do you measure lumbar flexion & extension?

Lumbar flexion decreases the angle between the lumbar spine and the thighs.

Lumbar extension increases the angle between the lumbar spine and the thighs

• Position: Lower back bends forward from a neutral position or Lower back moves backward from a flexed position.

• Moving Arm: TM - same points, minus the original measurement. I - Over the spine of S2

• Stationary Arm: TM - S2 and a point 15cm above S2. I - Over mark 15cm above S2

How do you measure finger IP flexion & extension?

Finger IP flexion decreases the angle between the proximal and distal phalanges, while extension increases it.

• Position: Finger bends at the interphalangeal joints from a neutral position.

• Axis: Posterior surface of the PIP

• Moving Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal phalanx

• Stationary Arm: Parallel to the longitudinal axis of the proximal phalanx .