Physical Therapy Range of Motion Exercises
Often prescribed for individuals who are confined to bed rest or are otherwise unable to perform more conventional exercises, range of motion exercises are a stopgap measure designed to prevent substantial atrophy or loss of mobility during potentially compromising situations. Range of motion exercises generally come in two flavors -- active and passive -- and understanding the uses of each and the distinctions between the two can help you make the most of a bad situation.
-
Range of Motion Exercises
-
Range of motion exercises are generally prescribed by a physical therapist for one of two reasons -- to allow you to get back in shape after a debilitating injury or to keep you in shape when you are otherwise physically limited. Range of motion training is designed to last for a specific amount of time, serving as the bridge that can take you from total disability to complete mobility in the shortest amount of time possible.
Active Range of Motion
-
The first category of range of motion exercises are active range of motion exercises. Active range of motion exercises are those that are performed by the individual patient under his own muscular volition. These exercises are normally prescribed for less-serious conditions in which the patient can still move on his own, and are generally more effective at getting someone "back on their feet" when compared to passive range of motion exercises.
-
Passive Range of Motion Exercises
-
The second category of range of motion exercises are passive range of motion exercises. Passive range of motion exercises are used when the patient is otherwise unable to exercise volitional control over the target muscles. These exercises normally require a partner to perform effectively. During passive range of motion exercises, the partner will have to manipulate the muscles through the target motion.
Examples
-
Note that a single exercise can be performed as either a passive or an active range of motion exercise. For example, the active variant of elbow bends would have the patient bending at the elbow to touch her fingers lightly to her shoulder, repeated for 10 to 15 reps. The passive version of the same exercise would have a partner physically bend the patient's arm through the same range of motion for a similar number of reps.
Considerations
-
To regain full motor control as quickly as possible and prevent the most amount of atrophy, range of motion exercises should be trained every day. Ideally, you should aim to practice your suggested exercises multiple times during the day, as the exercises are not significantly demanding on the musculature, and motor learning is positively reinforced by frequent repetition. Sticking to your physical therapist's plan and training as hard and as often as possible is the key to making a rapid and full recovery.
-
