math in my major
Math in Physical Therapy
Math is an important part of our everyday lives whether we know we are using it or not. In the physical therapy field, we use math more than people think. There are many formulas used in physical therapy, such as range of motion (ROM). It’s important to be able to apply these formulas. One important piece of math used in physical therapy is ROM, which can help physical therapists learn a few things about your joints. A person’s range of motion is the total amount of available motion in a specific joint. Physical therapists use what’s called a goniometer. A goniometer is an instrument used to measure angles. Goniometers are used to measure both active and passive range of motion. There are two common types of goniometers; the bubble inclinometer and the traditional goniometer. The bubble goniometer, which has a 360° rotating dial and scale with fluid indicator can be used for flexion and extension; abduction and adduction; and rotation in the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and the spine. The traditional goniometer, which can be used for flexion and extension; abduction and adduction; and rotation in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle, consists of three parts: a body, a stationary arm, and a moving arm. The correct selection of which goniometer device to use depends on the joint angle being measured.
Below are the charts for ROM:
Active ranges of motion of the larger joints
JOINT
ACTION
DEGREES OF MOTION
Shoulder
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Internal rotation
External rotation
0-180
0-40
0-180
0-80
0-90
Elbow
Flexion
0-150
Forearm
Pronation
Supination
0-80
0-80
Wrist
Flexion
Extension
Radial deviation
Ulnar deviation
0-60
0-60
0-20
0-30
Hip
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Internal rotation
External rotation
0-100
0-30
0-40
0-20
0-40
0-50
Knee
Flexion
0-150
Ankle
Plantarflexion
Dorsiflexion
0-40
0-20
Foot
Inversion
Eversion
0-30
0-20
Math is an important part of our everyday lives whether we know we are using it or not. In the physical therapy field, we use math more than people think. There are many formulas used in physical therapy, such as range of motion (ROM). It’s important to be able to apply these formulas. One important piece of math used in physical therapy is ROM, which can help physical therapists learn a few things about your joints. A person’s range of motion is the total amount of available motion in a specific joint. Physical therapists use what’s called a goniometer. A goniometer is an instrument used to measure angles. Goniometers are used to measure both active and passive range of motion. There are two common types of goniometers; the bubble inclinometer and the traditional goniometer. The bubble goniometer, which has a 360° rotating dial and scale with fluid indicator can be used for flexion and extension; abduction and adduction; and rotation in the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and the spine. The traditional goniometer, which can be used for flexion and extension; abduction and adduction; and rotation in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle, consists of three parts: a body, a stationary arm, and a moving arm. The correct selection of which goniometer device to use depends on the joint angle being measured.
Below are the charts for ROM:
Active ranges of motion of the larger joints
JOINT
ACTION
DEGREES OF MOTION
Shoulder
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Internal rotation
External rotation
0-180
0-40
0-180
0-80
0-90
Elbow
Flexion
0-150
Forearm
Pronation
Supination
0-80
0-80
Wrist
Flexion
Extension
Radial deviation
Ulnar deviation
0-60
0-60
0-20
0-30
Hip
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Internal rotation
External rotation
0-100
0-30
0-40
0-20
0-40
0-50
Knee
Flexion
0-150
Ankle
Plantarflexion
Dorsiflexion
0-40
0-20
Foot
Inversion
Eversion
0-30
0-20