Normal range of elbow joint motion

Our arms are very flexible, and their main function is performed by the elbow joint. The arm's activities also revolve around the normal range of motion of the elbow joint. However, after the onset of certain diseases, the normal range of motion of the arm will be affected, usually becoming smaller. This normal range can be measured by yourself, and it can also provide a preliminary assessment of possible problems with the elbow.

Range of motion refers to the arc of motion or angle of rotation a joint goes through when it moves. Joint mobility is divided into active joint mobility and passive joint mobility. The former is produced by active muscle contraction, while the latter is produced by external force without voluntary muscle movement. During forensic identification, when measuring the active and passive ROM of the joint, attention should be paid to comparing the two sides, and the starting position of the joint should be recorded as the neutral position 0°, such as elbow joint range of motion: extension 0° (neutral position), flexion 140°.

Determination method

Measuring the range of joint motion is a basic step in assessing patients with muscle, bone, and nerve damage, and is one of the indicators for assessing the scope and degree of joint movement function impairment. Its main purposes are: to determine whether there is limited joint movement and to discover the reasons affecting joint movement; to determine the degree of limited joint movement; to determine appropriate treatment goals and to determine the possible degree of recovery; to provide an objective basis for selecting appropriate treatment methods; to objectively measure the progress of joint range of motion to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment and training; to provide motivation for patients and therapists and objective data for scientific research.

Clinical symptoms

Common causes of abnormal joint range of motion include: pain and muscle spasm caused by joint, soft tissue, and bone lesions; soft tissue shortening and contracture caused by immobilization, long-term protective spasm, muscle strength imbalance, and chronic poor posture; scarring and adhesion of soft tissue around joints; intra-articular injury and effusion, peri-articular edema; loose bodies in the joints; abnormal joint structure; muscle paralysis or weakness caused by various lesions; and motor control disorders.