Passive exercises are done for a person by a helper. The helper does the exercises because the person cannot do them alone. As a caregiver, you can help someone do these passive exercises, usually range of motion exercises, to help joints and muscles stay as flexible as possible. Passive exercises will not maintain muscle mass or strengthen bones but are meant to help mobility. Do all passive exercises slowly, and stop if the person feels pain. Never force or over-stretch a muscle, which may cause damage.
Head and Neck
Perform these exercises to maintain fluid movement in the cervical spine. Lay the patient flat on his back, with his head flat on the bed. Support the back of his head with one hand, and support his chin with the other hand. Gently raise his head from the bed and tilt his chin toward his chest. Then place your hands on each side of his face, turn his head to the right and then to the left as if he were looking at his shoulders. Finally, tilt his head toward the side so that you bring his right ear toward the right shoulder. Then tilt his head toward the left side. Repeat these exercises 10 times.
Up and Down Shoulder Movement
Exercise the shoulder when the patient is lying down or sitting up. Place one hand under her elbow, and hold her wrist with the other hand. Keep her elbow straight or slightly bent. Turn her palm in toward her body, then slowly bring the right arm up over her head until her inner arm meets her ear. Bring her arm back down to her side. Repeat this exercise on the left side. Repeat this exercise three to five times.
Wrist Rotation
Place the patient's palm flat on a firm surface. With his elbow on the bed or another firm surface, or grabbing the elbow for support, lift his forearm. Bend his hand back toward the wrist, then bend his hand down until you feel resistance. Rock the hand back and forth sideways, and then rotate the hand in a circular motion. Always make sure there is no pain when you are helping the patient with wrist rotations, and never force a joint farther than its natural range of motion.
Knee Rotation
Place the patient's right leg flat on the bed. Put one hand under her ankle and the other hand under her knee. Bend her knee so the bottom of her right foot is flat on the bed. Roll the leg inward so that you attempt to touch the bed with the big toe, then roll the leg outward so you try to touch the bed with the little toe. Repeat this exercise 10 times on the right leg, then repeat on the left.
Ankle Bends and Rotations
Hold the right ankle with one hand, then grab the bottom of the right foot with your other hand. Push his foot up so his toes point toward the ceiling, then put your hand on top of the foot and push his foot down. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each side. For rotations, hold the ankle with one hand and the top of the foot with your other hand. Slowly rotate the ankle and foot in a clockwise direction. Repeat 10 rotations on each side.
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