Range of Motion question

[Jimi5]

I know what the textbooks say about ROM but I am curious as to know if you guys follow exactly what the book says or do you go further and do more than the textbooks say? I'm a full quad so I can't do anything unassisted. I always thought that you would do however much was necessary so you felt good and good seating position is maintained. The question is do you go past 90 degrees when doing hip flexon? And I always thought that 10 reps was good to maintain the ROM.
I would appreciate any comments. Thanks

[SCI-Nurse]

There is a normal range of motion for each joint. Our goal at our program is to maintain as much as possible of that normal ROM for the joint in question. Especially early after the injury, we don't know how much the person is going to get back, so keeping good ROM is especially important. It is a real problem if someone is allowed to develop a contracture, then gets return of movement but cannot use it due to the contracture.

Many people start off tight in their hamstrings and do not have over 90 degrees of flexion at the hip (in straight leg raises). If the person needs to be able to reach their lower legs or feet in long sitting for dressing, then we try to stretch as much past 90 degrees as we can here. Otherwise, for most people maintaining 90 degress is OK, although it does limit your ability to lean forward for weight shifts or positioning with the assistance of a caregiver during dressing or other activities.

In your hands, you may have more function if the "normal" ROM is altered. OTs spead a lot of time with hand ROM and positioning to try to achieve a functional grasp using tenodesis. This involves letting some deliberate contracture develop in fingers so that the pinch is functional and the tenodesis has some strength. Knowing what to stretch and when is therefore highly individual.

Of course if the cure comes, you would want to have full ROM in order to take advantage of this in the aggressive rehabiltition program that will be required to get you back on your feet.

(KLD)

[TD]

Originally posted by SCI-Nurse:


Of course if the cure comes, you would want to have full ROM in order to take advantage of this in the aggressive rehabiltition program that will be required to get you back on your feet.

(KLD)

It is not "if the cure comes..." KLD, it is "when the cure comes..."

"And so it begins."