A goniometer is a protractor with two arms that is used to measure a joint's range of motion.They're used in physical therapy to track the progress of a joint.The knee, hip, shoulder, and wrist are some of the joints you can measure using the goniometer.To track how far a limb can bend or extend, it's important to align the goniometer along the center of the joint.
Step 1: Before using the goniometer, Familiarize yourself with it.
A goniometer has two arms, one attached to the circle with an angle degree on it, and another that does the measuring.Make sure you understand how the moving arm points to the angle degrees so that you can measure the range of motion accurately.You can see the angle degree that the moving arm is pointing to by looking at the goniometer.
Step 2: The joint should be aligned with the center of the goniometer.
The center of the goniometer should be placed right on the joint you are measuring.The stationary arm has a round section attached to it.An accurate measurement can be made by aligning the goniometer and joint.If you want to measure the hip joint, you should place the goniometer in the center of your hip.
Step 3: The arm of the goniometer is stationary.
Align the stationary arm with the limb that is going to remain in place when the goniometer is on the joint.The limb that you hold steady is the one that rotates.If you were to use the goniometer to measure your knee's range of motion, it would be on the edge of the knee joint.Imagine aligning the arms of the goniometer with the bones in your body.
Step 4: The joint should be stretched through the range of motion.
While holding the goniometer and stationary limb in place, move the joint as far forwards or backwards as possible.You should not move any other part of your body except for the limb that is being measured.Hold your limb in place as you stretch the joint.While bending your wrist, hold your arm in place.The arm is about to be measured, and you would keep it stable by keeping the hand immobile.
Step 5: To align the goniometer with the limb, move the moving arm.
To align the goniometer with the limb you stretched, slide the moving arm around.The moving arm of the goniometer should be aligned with the stationary limb.Make sure the goniometer is moving straight down the center of the limb.The goniometer should be on the center of the joint.It should look like you used a goniometer to trace the angle of your stretch.
Step 6: To find the range of motion, record the angle on a piece of paper.
The angle degree on the stationary arm should be pointed at by the moving arm of the goniometer.If you remove the goniometer from the person's body, make sure to look at the reading on it.Write down which joint you measured, what type of movement was done, and the range of motion in degrees.
Step 7: The range of motion for a shoulder joint can be found using the goniometer.
Hold the arm against the body to measure the rotation of the shoulder.Stretching as far as possible is the best way to move the arm.Use the goniometer to measure the angle.Start with the arm down by the body and move it backwards to measure the back of the shoulder.The movement from the resting position to the top of your body is called thelateral rotation of the shoulder.The range of motion for the shoulder is 170 degrees.Hyper extension is the movement of your arm from the resting position to behind your body.The range of motion is 50 degrees.The shoulder joint should be the fulcrum of the goniometer.
Step 8: The wrist should be bent backwards or forwards to find the extension.
The elbow should be rested on a table with the arm upright.The angle can be measured by aligning the goniometer's arms along the center of the forearm and the middle finger.If you want to find the extension, bend the hand backwards instead of forwards.The wrist joint is where the goniometer is located.Flexion requires that the goniometer be on top of the hand, while extension requires it to be in the palm.Extension is 70 degrees for the wrist, while the average range of motion is 80 degrees.
Step 9: The hip joint can be found using the goniometer.
Have the person lay down on their back with their legs out in front of them.Flexion of the hip is the movement of one leg being brought upwards towards the body by aligning the arms.To measure the extension, the person will lay on their stomach and move their leg backwards.Lift the hips from the floor while moving the leg to get the most accurate measurement.The hip joint is the center of the goniometer, with the arms on the moving leg and the waist.The average extension for the hips is 20 degrees.
Step 10: To find the range of motion, align the goniometer with the elbow.
With the person laying down, hold the arm on the ground with the palm facing up.If you want to measure the angle degree of flexion with the goniometer, you have to bend the arm upwards towards the body.To create a straight line with the goniometer's arms, flex the arm back down towards the table.The elbow joint is next to the goniometer.When your arm is completely straight, the average extension should be 0 degrees.
Step 11: The knee can be measured using the goniometer.
If you want to measure the hyper extension of the knee, you have to have the person lay flat on their back with the leg extended as straight as possible.The person needs to lay on their stomach and bend their knee so that their leg is pulled toward their back.Hold the goniometer to the side of the knee joint and align the arms on either side with the moving leg.When your leg is in a straight line, the average knee extension should be 0 degrees.Imagine lining up the goniometer's arms along the bones of the leg.Don't move the body while the leg is bending.