ROM vs Mobilisation

[Gara]

Hello!
I´m a Spanish physiotherapist who is struggling with English medical terms. Can anyone tell me the difference between Range of Motion Exercises (R.O.M. and Mobilisation?)
Thank you!

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[alophysio]

Hi.

A simplistic way to look at it is:

ROM is a measure, usually of how far a joint moves

Mobilisation means simply to "move". It can apply to a joint (usually in musculoskeletal physio) or it can apply to a person walking etc.

ROM exercises are simply exercises that move a joint through its ROM with a view to maintain the ROM or to increase it with a stretch component at the end.

A lot of physios tend to use mobilisation to mean an accessory movement applied to a joint.

If you want more info, just ask!

[gerald78ph]

range of motion exercises (ROMEs) are done within the limits of available motion. when performng ROMEs, limb segments are moved through a pain-free range and/or resistance to the movement is felt (usually by the therapist); such resistance is usally caused by a derangement of the joint itself (problems with movement of the articular surface, a loose body within the joint, contracted joint capsule) or from peripheral causes (referred pain causing guarding, contracture of skin and other tissues proximal or even distal to the joint, spasticity or rigidity). the movement may be performed by the therapist (passive ROME), by the patient with assistance from the therapist (active-assisted ROME), by the patient alone (active ROME). The key points to remember are that the movement is done:
1. through the anatomical planes;
2. within the available range of motion of the patient (so think about what is normal fo that specific patient and what is theoretically normal as based from normative values); and
3. the barrier to any limitation of motion is not broken down.

mobilisation answers the problem of limitations to motion by targeting the barriers which cause the limitation of motion. it is therefore, in principle, a wholly passive treatment because the therapist does most of the work. it can include range-of-motion stretching which can be combined with proprioceptive neuromuscular relaxation techniques (such as hold-relax, contract-relax, etc), neural mobilisation, deep friction massage, myofascial release techniques, etc.

to differentiate further between ROMEs and mobilisation, the former maintains available ROM while the latter increases ROM to what is (reasonably) normal for the patient. also mobilisation can be differentiated from so-called manipulation because the former deals with small, gentle, controlled movements built on a feedback cycle with the patient while the latter are high-velocity thrusting motions which are difficult to stop by either patient or therapist once the manoeuvre is performed.