Passive range of motion exercises not only aids in promoting healthy joint functionality and benefits patients in reducing pain, promoting healing, restoring and maintaining range of motion in certain affected joints, and building muscle mass, allowing for better blood flow and assists in increasing oxygen levels especially after surgery or after an injury.
Bed ridden patients also benefit hugely from assisted passive motion exercises which are carried out by carer or nurse.
Not only does a range of passive motion exercise assist the body but also stimulates the brain and works excellent with patients suffering with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. We all know that any form of exercises stimulates the brain whether it be simply walking or doing passive or assisted ROM.
What is ROM (Range of Motions)
Range of Motion (ROM) is how far you are able to move your joints in different directions. These help patients to gently move each joint through its full range of motion.
These passive exercises are performed to help maintain a person’s flexibility and mobility in the joints. In patients who cannot perform active ROM exercises on their own, passive ROM exercises can help reduce stiffness of a joint for example a knee or elbow from freezing from a lack of movement or for patients suffering with arthritis or Osteoporosis .
There are three types of Range of Motion exercises: passive, active, and active assists. When passive range of motion is applied, the joint of an individual receiving exercise is completely relaxed while the carer / nurse or therapist moves the body part, such as a leg or arm or any other limb.
Types of Passive Physical Therapy.
Some passive therapy treatment types, which is also called modalities which makes use Ice and/or heat therapy. Ice / cold packs may be applied to help reduce pain and swelling. Heat packs may be applied which also increases the blood flow as well as loosening stiff muscles, great for patient suffering with arthritis or Osteoporosis.
Passive exercise: Movement of the body, usually of the limbs, without effort by the patient. The patient is passive and the nurse or carer moves and assists with motion.
Depending on the severity of a patient a trained Physical Therapist Specialist will advise the patient or carer on how many times to do each motion. Ideally, these exercises should be done at least once a day. Do each exercise 10 times or move the body part to the point of resistance and hold for 30 seconds and repeat.
Below is a small Diagram of some Passive Motion exercises for bedridden patients or patients suffering with joint stiffness such as arthritis or Osteoporosis or due to prolonged periods of bed rest.
Note that some of these cannot be carried out in the case of a joint replacement for up to 6 weeks example below.
