Active Range of Motion

Active range of motion is a flexibility technique commonly used by physical therapists as part of rehabilitation programs. It is not actually a method of stretching but is used to promote normal motion. Active range of motion exercises have been employed successfully with individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis (Byers 1985), and they are easy to perform. These activities involve using the muscles that surround a joint to move the joint completely through its available range of motion. An example is opening and closing your hand, making sure that you completely extend and flex all of the fingers each time. For the best results, a range of motion exercise should be performed 5 to 10 times, depending on comfort (Kisner and Colby 2002). You do not have to hold the position at either end of the motion, nor do you use any resistance.

You can perform these exercises as assisted activities by using pulleys, a cane, or any other device that helps you move the joint throughout its range. Since range of motion activities are not truly stretches, they are most useful for maintaining normal range and decreasing stiffness in a joint, whereas the previous activities are designed to actually increase the joint s range of motion. A benefit especially important to arthritis patients is that these movements load and unload the joint, a process that helps nutritional substances get into a joint and metabolic byproducts get out of it (Goodman and Boissonnault 2003).