You may need to do active range of motion exercises when you are weak due to an illness, arthritis, or surgery. These exercises may keep your joints from getting stiff and may help speed healing. They take a joint through its natural range of motion, without assistance. Check with your doctor before doing these exercises if you have a fracture, wound, or heart problems.
Repeat the motion 3 to 5 times for each exercise. Do them 1 to 2 times a day, at least 3 times per week.
Q. Are active range of motion exercises the same as stretching?
A. No. Active range of motion exercises only maintain the available range of motion of the joint.
Q. When do you stop an exercise?
A. Stop an exercise if you feel weak, light-headed, or if you have pain. You may need to rest for a short time. If you have a muscle spasm or tightening of the muscles around a joint, apply slow and steady gentle pressure to the area until the muscle relaxes.
Q. What should you do if you are unsure how to start the exercises?
A. Think about your goals and speak with your doctor. A physical or occupational therapist can look at how you move your joints and help you find active range of motion exercises that best suit your needs.
Call the doctor if you:
American Physical Therapy Association
http://www.apta.org
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org
Canadian Physiotherapy Association
http://www.physiotherapy.ca
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Physical Therapy. Merck Manual Consumer Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/fundamentals/rehabilitation/physical-therapy-pt. Reviewed June 2017. Accessed March 9, 2020.
Range of motion exercises, active: teaching. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at:https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Updated May 11, 2018. Accessed March 9, 2020.
Last reviewed November 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT, GCS