Range of motion is defined as which?

• A. Strength of muscles
• B. Maximum amount of movement available at a joint
• C. Number of joints in a limb
• D. Time it takes to move a joint through pain

Answer: (B)

Range of motion is the maximum amount of movement available at a joint. This measures how far a joint can move, independent of how strong the surrounding muscles are. It isn’t about muscle strength, the total number of joints, or how long it takes to move through pain. In practice, ROM can be assessed as active (the person moves the joint themselves) or passive (the examiner moves the joint for them), and is usually expressed in degrees. Limitations to ROM come from joint structure, soft tissues, pain, or swelling, while normal ROM varies by joint and individual.