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Topic 1-9
Active and Passive Range of Motion Exercise

The body was designed for motion. Regular exercise contributes to a healthy body; therefore immobility has a negative effect. A joint that has not been moved sufficiently can begin to stiffen within 24 hours and will eventually become inflexible. With longer periods of joint immobility, the tendons and muscles can be affected as well.

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify the effects of immobility.
• Identify the purposes of exercise for the immobile patient.
• Define the five types of exercises.
• Define the nine types of body movement.
• Identify guidelines for range-of-motion exercises.

Select a Lesson:

	The Effects of Immobility
	Exercise for the Immobile Patient
	Types of Body Movement
	Range of Motion Exercises

Encourage the immobile patient to participate as fully as possible so that he feels involved in the process. Always explain to the patient what you are about to do and enlist his cooperation. To avoid strain, remember to maintain your own proper body mechanics as you carry out the exercises for the patient. The overall nursing goal is to promote the maximum degree of mobility for the patient who cannot engage in the normal activities of daily living and prevent or reduce the effects of immobility. Performing range of motion exercises can often save the patient a lengthy rehabilitation.

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