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Shoulder Goniometry
Introduction
1. It is the measuring of angles created by the bones of
the body at the joints.
2. These joints are measured by a goniometer.
3. It has a moving arm, stationary arm, and the fulcrum.
4. The fulcrum or body is placed over the joint being
measured and on it is a scale from 0 to 180.
5. The stationary arm will be aligned with the inactive
part of the joint measured, while the moving arm is
placed on the part of the limb which is moved in the
joints motion.
6. For example, when measuring knee flexion, the
stationary arm will be aligned over the thigh in line
with the greater trochanter of the femur.
Introduction - continue
7. The fulcrum is aligned over the knee joint or lateral epicondyle of
the femur, and the moving arm with the midline of the leg or
lateral malleolus.
8. Performing these tests is important for many reasons.
Flexion
Patient Instructions:
Once the goniometer is aligned
properly ask the patient to lift the arm
up just as if they were raising their
hand to ask a question.
Be sure that the patient keeps the palm
of their hand facing in toward their
body.
Starting Position
Patient is supine with arm
at side and the palm of the
hand facing the body.
The fulcrum of the
goniometer is placed over
the acromion process.
The stationary and moving
arms are aligned with the
midline of the humerus
and lateral epicondyle.
Ending Position
The moving arm remains in line with the lateral
epicondyle and midline of the humerus.
The examiner supporting the patients extremity.
The stationary arm should remain in its starting position,
only now it should be in line with the lateral midline of
the thorax.
Normal ROM for glenohumeral flexion is 160 to 180; in
the picture the patient is in 180 of flexion.
Extension
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to simply lift their arm off
the table as far as they can.
Starting Position
Patient is prone with arm at
side; make sure the head is
facing away from the
shoulder being tested.
Elbow bent slightly and the
palm facing in toward the
body.
The fulcrum is placed over
the acromion process.
The stationary and moving
arms are aligned with the
lateral midline of the
humerus and the lateral
epicondyle.
Ending Position
The moving arm remains in line with the lateral
epicondyle and the examiner should support the
patients extremity.
The stationary arm in line with the midline of the thorax.
Normal ROM for glenohumeral extension is 40 to 60; in
the picture the patient is in 61 of extension.
Abduction
Patient Instructions:
Have the patient bring their arm out to
their side and as close to their head as
they can.
Make sure that their palm faces upward
throughout the motion.
Starting Position
The patient is supine
with arm at side; the
palm should be facing
interiorly.
The fulcrum is placed at
the acromion process.
The stationary and
moving arms are
aligned with the
anterior midline of the
humerus.
Ending Position
The stationary arm should remain still and
parallel to the sternum.
The moving arm should still be resting at the
anterior midline of the humerus.
Normal ROM between 160 and 180; the patient
in the picture is in 174 of abduction
Starting Position
Supine with 90 of shoulder
abduction and the elbow is
in 90 of flexion.
The table should not
support the elbow.
The fulcrum centered over
the olecranon process.
The moving arm is aligned
with the ulnar styloid and
the stationary arm should
be perpendicular to the
floor.
Ending Position
Same as above
Normal ROM is 60-70; the patient is in 68 of
internal rotation.
Typical ROM
Flexion
160 - 180
Extension
40 - 60
Abduction
160 - 180
Internal Rotation
60-70
External Rotation
80 - 100
Elbow Goniometry
Flexion
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to bend their elbow as
far as they can, try and touch their
shoulder.
Starting Position
Ending Position
The arm is now flexed
at the elbow, the
goniometer should still
be aligned with the
correct anatomical
landmarks as described
below.
Normal ROM is between
150-160, the patient
has 155 of elbow
flexion.
Pronation
Patient Instructions:
Have the patient turn their
wrist down toward the ground.
Starting Position:
Ending Position
The fulcrum should remain
in the same position as
above.
The stationary arm will still
be aligned parallel to the
midline of the humerus,
the moving arm will lie
across the dorsum of the
forearm just behind the
ulnar and radial styloid
processes.
Normal ROM is 90-96, the
patient has 95 of
pronation.
Supination
Patient Instructions:
Starting Position:
Ending Position
The moving arm will
be resting on the
medial forearm at the
radioulnar joint.
The moving arm
should remain parallel
to the midline of the
humerus.
Normal ROM is 81-93,
the patient has 90 of
Supination.
Typical ROM
Flexion
150-160
Extension
Pronation
90-96
Supination
81-93
Wrist Flexion
Flexion
END POSITION
Wrist Extension
Extension
Position: Sitting next to supporting surface. G-H abd 90, Elbow flexed
90, Forearm in 0 supination-pronation, resting on supporting surface,
hand free to move. Avoid wrist radial-ulnar flexion & finger flexion .
Stabilization: Stabilize radius & ulna to prevent supination or pronation.
Center: Lateral aspect of wrist over triquetrum
Proximal Arm: Lateral midline of ulna. Olecranon & ulnar styloid process
Distal Arm: Lateral midline of 5th metacarpal
END POSITION
Radial Flexion
Position: Sitting next to supporting surface. G-H abd 90, Elbow flexed
90, Forearm in 0 supination-pronation, resting on supporting surface,
hand free to move. Avoid wrist radial-ulnar flexion & finger flexion
Stabilization: Stabilize distal ends of radius & ulna to prevent pronation &
supination of forearm & elbow flexion beyond 90
Center: Middle of dorsal aspect of wrist over capitate
Proximal Arm: Dorsal midline of forearm. lateral epicondyle of humerus
Distal Arm: Dorsal midline of 3rd metacarpal. Reference 3rd phalanx
END POSITION
Ulnar Flexion
Position: Sitting next to supporting surface. G-H abd 90, Elbow flexed
90, Forearm in 0 supination-pronation, resting on supporting surface,
hand free to move. Avoid wrist radial-ulnar flexion & finger flexion
Stabilization: Stabilize distal ends of radius & ulna to prevent pronation &
supination of forearm & elbow flexion beyond 90
Center: Middle of dorsal aspect of wrist over capitate
Proximal Arm: Dorsal midline of forearm. lateral epicondyle of humerus
Distal Arm: Dorsal midline of 3rd metacarpal. Reference 3rd phalanx
END POSITION
Hip Goniometry
Flexion
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to bend their knee and bend
their leg and bring it as close to their chest as
is comfortable for them.
Ending Position
Extension
Patient Instructions:
Have the patient lift their leg
off the table as far as they
can.
Starting and Ending Position:
Patient is lying prone with
legs together and arms at
sides.
Goniometer positioning is the
same as for hip flexion.
Normal ROM for hip extension
is 10 to 30, patient has 25 of
hip extension.
Ending Position
Abduction
Patient Instructions:
The patient should be asked to
move their leg out to the side as far
as they can.
Starting Position
Ending Position
Same as before
Normal ROM for hip abduction is 40 to 50; the
patient has 48 of hip abduction.
Adduction
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to move their leg to
the inside toward their opposite leg.
Starting Position
Ending Position
Same as before
The normal ROM is 15 to 25.
The patient has 18 of hip adduction.
Patient Instructions:
Have the patient bring their leg out to the side.
Starting Position:
The patient will be sitting off of the edge of the table,
knees against the table, with their legs dangling down off
the table.
The fulcrum is aligned with the patella and both arms of
the goniometer with the midline of the tibia.
Ending Position
Typical ROM
Flexion
115 - 125
Extension
10 - 30
Abduction
40 - 50
Adduction
15 - 25
internal Rotation
35 - 50
External Rotation
35 - 50
Knee Goniometry
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to bend their knee as far as they can.
If the patient is able, he/she should also flex at the hip to get complete knee
flexion.
If the patient cannot flex at the hip this measurement can also be done in the
prone position.
Extension
Start & End Position
ANKLE GONIOMETRY
Dorsiflexion
Starting Position:
Patient is sitting with legs off
the table.
The fulcrum is aligned with the
lateral malleolus.
The stationary arm is in line with
the midline of the lower leg; use
the head of the fibula for
reference.
The moving arm is parallel to the
fifth metatarsal.
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to bend the ankle and point their toes up
towards the ceiling
Note:
Remember that the
goniometer will be at 90 and
to adjust for that when
recording the angles.
Ending Position
Plantar flexion
Starting Position and Ending
Position:
Patient is sitting with legs
off table.
Goniometer alignment is
the same as for
Dorsiflexion.
Normal ROM is 20 to 30,
the patient is at 27 degrees.
Patient Instructions:
Ask the patient to point their foot down toward the
ground.