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Measuring joint range of motion

This is an excerpt from Soft Tissue Therapy for the Lower Limb by Jane C. Johnson.

For detailed information on using a goniometre and the ranges of motion considered typical in human joints, refer to The Clinical Measurement of Joint Motion (Greene and Heckman 1994). When assessing a joint, remember that many factors can limit the range of motion, including a restriction in the joint itself (such as the shape of the joint) and laxity or tightness in the soft tissues surrounding the joint. It is important to test the range of motion both passively and actively. A passive test might reveal that a person has a good range of motion that would otherwise be difficult to determine when assessed actively, because active movements could be limited by pain or lack of strength.

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