Range of Motion (exercise machine)

Range of motion (ROM) is when a person has become injured in some way, most times the doctor's advice the patients to exercise and stretch the back muscles. For this purpose a form of exercises called range of motion exercises which are used to keep the muscles and joints in the patients back strong and flexible. These exercises can be done by the patient himself, or with a physical therapist. If these exercises are done alone they would be called active range of motion (AROM) exercises and if they require assistance they would be called active-assisted range of motion (AAROM) exercises.

A range of motion exercise machine won the 1991 Popular Science award for "Best of what's new" in leisure products.[1]

Range of motion exercises

Range of motion exercise refers to activity aimed to improving movement of a specific joint. This motion is influenced by several structures: configuration of bone surfaces within the joint, joint capsule, ligaments, tendons, and muscles acting on the joint.[2] Range of motion exercises are also called "ROM" exercises. There are three types of ROM exercises: passive, active, and active assists. Passive range of motion is movement applied to a joint solely by another person or persons or a passive motion machine. When passive range of motion is applied, the joint of an individual receiving exercise is completely relaxed while the outside force moves the body part, such as a leg or arm, throughout the available range. Injury, surgery, or immobilization of a joint may affect the normal joint range of motion.[3]

Active range of motion is movement of a joint provided entirely by the individual performing the exercise. In this case, there is no outside force aiding in the movement. Active assist range of motion is described as a joint receiving partial assistance from an outside force. This range of motion may result from the majority of motion applied by an exerciser or by the person or persons assisting the individual. It also may be a half-and-half effort on the joint from each source.[2][3]

Types of passive ROMs
  • Head and neck exercises
  • Shoulder and elbow exercises
  • Forearm and wrist exercises
  • Hand and finger exercises
  • Hip and knee exercises
  • Ankle and foot exercises

References
  1. Daniel Miller (December 8, 2008). "Push and pull: Romfab faces resistance to its exercise machine due to a high price and claim of a full workout in four minutes". Entrepreneur Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal.
  2. "range of motion exercise - definition of range of motion exercise in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  3. "Passive Range Of Motion Exercises - Care Guide". Drugs.com. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
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