| Purpose |
|
|---|---|
| Pressure | 1–3 / 10 · pressure scale |
| Rhythm | Slow and smooth, each movement taking several seconds, with no pause or hold at the end. |
| Hands | One hand steadying above the joint, the other supporting the limb below it |
| Cautions |
|
Step by step
- 01 / 06
Explain and relax
Tell the client you will move their arm or leg and ask them to let it go heavy. If they start to help, pause and remind them to relax.
- 02 / 06
Hold the limb
For the shoulder, with the client supine, steady the top of the shoulder with one hand and cradle the arm at the elbow and wrist with the other.
- 03 / 06
Move through an easy arc
Move the arm slowly in one direction, such as out to the side and up. Keep the movement smooth and the limb fully supported.
- 04 / 06
Stop at first resistance
Stop as soon as you feel the tissue start to resist or the client reports tightness. Do not push further; that is stretching, not range of motion.
- 05 / 06
Slow circles
Make slow, small circles with the limb within the easy range, keeping the joint centred.
- 06 / 06
Return to rest
Bring the limb back to neutral and lower it onto the table with full support.
Common mistakes
- Moving too fast, so the client tenses.
- Pushing past the first point of resistance.
- Holding only the hand or foot, so the limb is not fully supported.
- Letting the client lift or help the movement.
How it should feel
- Giver: the limb feels heavy and loose in your hands and moves without catching.
- Receiver: a slow, effortless movement where the limb feels safely held.
Self-check
Drills
In passive range of motion the therapist does all the work, which is what separates it from active movement, where the client moves the joint themselves. It is often used after massaging the muscles around a joint, such as the Deltoid and rotator cuff (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus) at the shoulder, or the Gluteus maximus and Iliopsoas at the hip.
If you pause and hold at the end of the range, the movement becomes a Passive stretching instead.