Limited range of motion
Limited range of motion is a term meaning that a joint or body part cannot move through its normal range of motion.
Motion may be limited because of a problem within the joint, swelling of tissue around the joint, stiffness of the muscles, or pain.
Causes of Limited range of motion
A sudden loss of range of motion may be due to:
- Dislocation of a joint
- Fracture of an elbow or other joint
- Septic or infected joint (hip is most common in children)
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (in boys 4 to 10 years old)
- Nursemaid's elbow, an injury to the elbow joint (in young children)
Loss of motion may occur if you damage the bones within a joint. This may happen if you have:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Broken a joint bone in the past
- Frozen shoulder
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Brain, nerve, or muscle disorders can damage the nerves, tendons, and muscles, and can cause loss of motion. Some of these disorders include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Congenital torticollis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Stroke or brain injury
- Volkmann contracture
Your health care provider may suggest exercises to increase muscle strength and flexibility.
When to Contact a Health Professional
Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have difficulty moving or extending a joint.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms.
Physical therapy may be recommended.
Campbell M, Dudek N, Trudel G. Joint contractures. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2014:chap 126.
Comeau D, Heaton K, Gordon A. Rheumatology and musculoskeletal problems. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 32.
|Review Date: 9/8/2014
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.