Limited range of motion

Definition:

A reduction in the normal distance and direction through which a joint can move.

Considerations:

Range of motion is the natural distance and direction of movement of a joint. Limited range of motion is a relative term indicating that a specific joint or body part cannot move through its normal and full range of motion.

Motion may be limited by a mechanical problem within the joint that prevents it from moving beyond a certain point, by swelling of tissue around the joint, by spasticity of the muscles, or by pain.

Diseases that prevent a joint from fully extending may, over time, produce contracture deformities, causing permanent inability to extend the joint beyond a certain fixed position.

Common Causes:

rheumatoid arthritis
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
ankylosing spondylitis
cerebral palsy
fracture of elbow (olecranon process)
fractures through most joint
dislocation (most joints)
radial head dislocation (nursemaids elbow), extremely common
congenital torticollis
septic joint (especially septic hip)
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
syphilis
mucopolysaccharide storage diseases
- Hurler syndrome
- Scheie syndrome
- Hunter syndrome
- Morquio syndrome
progeria
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome

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:

a joint does not move fully and easily in its normal manner. 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 medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting limited range of motion in detail may include:

time pattern
- When did it start?
quality
- How bad is it?
location
- Where is it exactly?
- Is it only in one location?
other
- What other symptoms are also present?

Note: This finding 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.

Physical examination:
The muscular system, nervous system, and skeleton may be examined in detail.

Depending on the cause, diagnostic tests may be necessary, including:

joint X-rays
spine X-rays
tests for the suspected cause

Intervention:
Physical therapy may be recommended.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to limited range of motion to your personal medical record.

Review Date: 5/26/2001
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Health Network.

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