AROM/PROM

Question 1

What does AROM show

Answer 1

• Quality
• Range
• Pain response
• Occurrence of muscle spasm
• Willingness to move

Question 2

What does a AROM test?

Answer 2

- Mechanical/structural:
Muscle and tendon
Inert tissue (joint, ligament, capsule)
Stretches and pulls
Load transference 

- Biopsychosocial
Willingness to move
Pain behaviours
Fear avoidance
Reluctance
Fear
Maladaptive behaviours

Question 3

What does PROM show

Answer 3

• Limit to movement (end feel)
• Pain response
• ROM achieved

Question 4

End feels

Answer 4

NORMAL:

• Soft - soft tissue approximation
• Hard - bony approximation
• Spongy - inflamed or effused it
• Soft with hard end feel - capsular, ligament or muscle stretch

ABNORMAL:

• Bony - feeling bone before normal end ROM
• Empty - not being able to achieve ROM due to pain
• Springy block - loose cartilage/meniscus
• Soft - effusion

Question 5

What does a PROM show?

Answer 5

• A test of inert (non-contractile) structures
• Should mirror AROM tests
• Pt needs to be totally relaxed and supported