How should an individual joint ROM be documented?

• A. Recorded as range from beginning to end
• B. R Shoulder flexion: 0-180 degrees
• C. L Elbow flexion: 5-150 degrees
• D. R Wrist ROM: 10-50 degrees

Answer: (A)

Document ROM as the range from the starting position to the ending position. This records the full arc of motion, showing where the movement begins and where it ends, which makes the measurement meaningful and comparable across sessions and clinicians. While listing a numeric range for a specific joint, like 0-180 degrees, is common, the essential point is to anchor that range to the starting posture so the motion isn’t misinterpreted if the starting position isn’t neutral. Recording the range from beginning to end provides a clear, consistent description of how much motion the joint actually has.