Individuals who are too weak to exercise their own muscles or those who are paralyzed may require your help to keep their muscles and joints healthy. While range of motion exercises won't build new muscle, such exercises will help prevent joints from stiffness and contractions and will help keep muscles as healthy as possible. You may need to demonstrate passive and active range of motion exercises in your work or when guiding family members in caring for loved ones.
Range of Motion
Active range of motion exercises is done by the individual himself. Passive range of motion exercises are done by a caregiver to seniors who can't do the exercise themselves. When demonstrating passive range of motion exercises for caregivers, emphasize the importance of supporting the working limb. For example, when exercising the elbow for a senior debilitated by a stroke, support the arm above and below the elbow joint. Caution seniors engaging in active range of motion exercises to move slowly and rotate joints without causing pain.
Neck
Active range of motion exercises for the head and neck focus on stretching muscles and preventing joints from becoming stiff and painful through misuse. To demonstrate an active range of motion exercise for the neck, stand or sit facing your audience. Slowly turn your head to the right, as if you're trying to look over your right shoulder. Hold for several seconds and then slowly face the front. Turn toward your left, looking over your left shoulder. Hold for several seconds and then look to the front again.
When demonstrating passive range of motion for the neck, place your hands on either side of the senior's face, cupping his jaw and cradling your fingers around the ears. Slowly turn his head to the right, careful not to cause pain. Repeat the action on the other side.
Fingers
Teach seniors to exercise their fingers in a form of active range of motion to help relieve pain of arthritis and to keep fingers supple and strong. For example, demonstrate by holding your hand in front of you, palm side up. Spread your fingers and then pull your thumb into the palm of your hand. Hold, then release. Repeat the movement with each finger. Repeat the process with the other hand.
To demonstrate the same exercise passively, grasp a senior's wrist, bracing it gently in one hand. Gently grasp the thumb with the fingers of your other hand and repeat the moves performed in the active range of motion exercise with the exception that you're performing the finger bends on his hand yourself.
Ankle
Show seniors how to perform active range of motion on their ankles. From a seated position, extend your right foot outward. Rotate your foot clockwise and then counterclockwise several times in each direction. Repeat the move on your left foot.
Demonstrate the passive form of the exercise by grasping the senior's ankle, one hand bracing the lower calf, the other grasping the ball of their foot. Rotate his ankle in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.
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