Joint Movements & ROM

Vocabulary

active ROM (AROM), passive ROM (PROM), range of motion (ROM), ROM standards or norms

1. ACTIVE ROM (AROM) — A joint’s range of movement determined by “voluntary movement” (without any external aid)
2. PASSIVE ROM (PROM) — A joint’s range of movement that occurs from an external force helping to move the body
3. RANGE OF MOTION (ROM) — The degree of movement that occurs at a joint, measured in degrees of a circle
4. ROM  — Abbreviation for range of motion
5. ROM STANDARDS OR NORMS — Ideal range of movement for joints as defined by specialists in orthopedics, physical therapy and related fields

ROM & ROM Standards

ROM Defined

The degree of movement that occurs at each joint is called its range of motion (ROM).

• ROM is measured in degrees of a circle.
• Active Range of Motion (AROM) is determined without any external aid.
• Passive Range of Motion (PROM) occurs from an external force helping to move the body.