15. Passive ROM

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts from Chapter 9 (pp. 276–284) on passive range of motion (PROM) and positioning.

Range of Motion (ROM)

The extent of movement that occurs at a joint, measured from the beginning to the end of its available arc.

Passive Range of Motion (PROM)

Movement of a joint produced entirely by an external force, with no active muscle contraction, performed within the unrestricted ROM.

Active Range of Motion (AROM)

Movement of a joint produced by the patient’s own muscular effort without assistance.

Active-Assistive Range of Motion (AAROM)

Joint movement performed by the patient with simultaneous assistance from an external force, either manual or mechanical.

Stretching

Exercise—active or passive—designed to push a body segment beyond its current available ROM to increase flexibility.

Extensibility

The capability of soft tissues (muscle, tendon, ligament, capsule) to be lengthened to allow full joint motion.

Contracture

A permanent or semi-permanent shortening of muscle or other soft tissue that limits joint motion.

Kinesthesia

Awareness or perception of joint or body movement.

Proprioception

Sense of body or joint position in space.

Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)

Mechanical device that moves a joint continuously through a preset ROM without patient effort.

Muscle Guarding

Involuntary contraction of muscles around an injured or painful area, restricting movement.

SINSS

Acronym for Severity, Irritability, Nature, Stage, and Stability—factors considered when determining PROM precautions.

Venous Stasis

Pooling or stagnation of blood in the veins, often due to immobility, that increases risk of thrombosis.

Lumbrical Grip

A handhold technique using flexed metacarpophalangeal joints and extended interphalangeal joints to provide secure, comfortable contact when performing PROM.

Base of Support (BOS)

The area beneath a person that includes every point of contact with the supporting surface; widened to enhance stability during patient handling.

Manual Contacts

The placement and pressure of the therapist’s hands on a patient to guide and support movement, which should be firm yet comfortable and avoid bony prominences.

Indications for PROM

Clinical situations where external joint movement is desirable, such as paralysis, post-surgical protection, pain with active motion, prevention of contractures, or venous stasis risk.

Contraindications to PROM

Conditions in which external movement should not be applied, including lack of patient consent, tissue healing phases where motion impedes repair, or strong painful muscle guarding.

Precautions for PROM

Factors necessitating caution—e.g., temporary pain increase, elicited abnormal muscle tone, or unfavorable SINSS profile.

Benefits of PROM

Helps maintain existing ROM, minimize negative effects of immobility, preserve tissue nutrition, reduce pain, enhance synovial fluid movement, and increase kinesthetic awareness.

Limitations of PROM

Does not prevent muscle atrophy, reduce adipose tissue, increase strength or endurance, or increase ROM permanently when used alone.

External Force

The manual or mechanical source, such as therapist, family member, or device, that moves the joint during PROM.

Physiologic vs Pathologic Movement

Physiologic movement is normal joint motion within anatomical limits; pathologic movement denotes abnormal, restricted, or excessive motion indicating dysfunction, often assessed during PROM.

Soft Tissue

Non-bony structures—muscle, tendon, ligament, fascia, nerve, vascular or connective tissue—that contribute to joint motion and can limit ROM when tight.

Joint Capsule

Fibrous connective tissue envelope surrounding a synovial joint, providing stability and containing synovial fluid; its integrity affects available ROM.