Limited range of motion

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.