Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Limited range of motion

Table of Contents

Home Care

Your health care provider may recommend range of motion exercises, designed to increase muscle strength and flexibility. Continue these exercises at home.


Call your health care provider if

Visit your health care provider if a joint does not move fully and easily in its normal way. If a joint develops (new) changes in its ability to move, the affected part should be examined to determine the cause.


What to expect at your health care provider's office

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and will ask you about your medical history. Questions may include:

  • When did your symptoms start?
  • How bad is it?
  • What body part is affected?
  • Does the limited range of motion affect more than one body area?
  • Do you also have pain?
  • What other symptoms do you have?

Note: Limited range of motion may be discovered by the health care provider during an examination for other conditions, and the affected person may or may not have been aware of its presence.

The muscular system, nervous system, and skeleton may be examined in detail. Depending on the cause, joint x-rays and spine x-rays may be needed. Other tests may also be done.

Physical therapy may be recommended.


Review Date: 08/03/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)