What is the normative ROM for hip extension in degrees?

• A. 0-20 degrees
• B. 0-30 degrees
• C. 0-25 degrees
• D. 0-15 degrees

Answer: (A)

Hip extension ROM is how far the thigh can move backward from neutral. In healthy adults, when the knee is kept straight, this range is about 0 to 20 degrees. That’s the standard reference used in most clinical norms, which is why it’s the best choice here.

When you measure, the patient is typically lying prone with the pelvis stabilized, and the goniometer is aligned so that 0 degrees is the starting neutral position. The axis is placed over the greater trochanter, the stationary arm runs along the midline of the pelvis, and the moving arm follows the lateral midline of the femur toward the lateral epicondyle. This setup yields the commonly cited 0–20 degrees for hip extension.

The other numbers can reflect testing under different conditions—like extending with the knee flexed or in individuals with certain instructions or limitations—but for the standard normative value, the 0 to 20 degrees range is used.