♀️PTA 110 – Basic Exercise Study Notes
1. 🔁 Types of Exercise
Type Description
Active
Patient actively contracts muscles to perform movement
ROM
Passive Movement is done for the patient; no voluntary muscle
ROM contraction involved
2. ✅ Factors to Consider Before Exercise
Joint stability
Patient’s physical ability & mental status
Purpose of the exercise
Need for support or assistance
Safety first: prevent injury or worsening of symptoms
3. 💪 Active Range of Motion (AROM)
Feature Notes
Yes – patient must control, contract, and coordinate
Voluntary?
movement
Contraindicatio Cardiopulmonary dysfunction, unhealed fractures, edema,
ns recent surgery
Indications Mild limitations with movement control
⭐ Benefits of AROM:
Maintains muscle elasticity, strength, endurance
Improves local circulation & sensory awareness
Enhances cardiopulmonary function
Helps prevent DVT
Promotes tendon-bone interface health
⚠️AROM Precautions:
Pain during or after exercise
Abnormal breathing pattern
Cardiopulmonary stress
Undesired movement patterns or muscle tone
Regressing functional abilities
4. 🧘♀️Active Free Exercises
Feature Description
Assistanc
None (patient does it all)
e
Resistanc
None, but gravity may assist or resist
e
Smooth, controlled motion with short
Execution
pauses
5. 🛌 Passive Range of Motion (PROM)
PROM Is Used When…
Patient is paralyzed, unconscious, or
restricted
AROM is contraindicated
Preventing joint stiffness
from immobilization
Evaluating joint flexibility and sensory
feedback
⭐ Benefits of PROM:
Preserves joint ROM
Prevents contractures and adhesions
Maintains elasticity of muscles and joint structures
Improves synovial fluid distribution
Enhances sensory input
Helps evaluate joint integrity
🚫 Limitations of PROM:
Cannot increase strength, tone, or endurance
Cannot reduce adipose tissue
Less effective for circulation than active exercise
6. ⚙️How PROM is Performed
Method Examples
Performed by therapist, patient, or
Manual
caregiver
Mechanic Pulleys, CPM machines, isokinetic
al machines
Positioning limbs to reduce or assist
Gravity
motion
Use correct hand placements for support and stabilization
Avoid excess strain or force
Move through cardinal planes
Stretch two-joint muscles over both joints unless contraindicated
(e.g., spinal cord injuries)
7. 🧱 End Feel Types
End Feel
Description
Type
Tissue compression (e.g., elbow
Soft
flexion)
Firm Capsular or ligamentous stretch
Limited by pain, not physical
Empty
structure
Learn to differentiate capsular vs soft end feel for proper assessment.
8. 🧠 Special Consideration – Cervical Spine
Vertebral Artery Occlusion Test:
1. Full head/neck extension
2. Rotation L/R in neutral and in extension
3. Hold for 10–15 sec → watch for symptoms:
Symptoms of
Occlusion
Dizziness, visual
changes
Lightheadedness
Diplopia (double
vision)
9. 📝 Basic Exercise Procedure Guidelines
1. Review treatment plan and patient goals
2. Remove orthotics/equipment and drape appropriately
3. Instruct patient on breathing (avoid Valsalva)
4. Use slow, smooth motions through range
5. Observe for signs of stress, pain, or instability
6. Modify as needed based on patient feedback and performance
10. 📌 Key Principles
Start slowly to avoid flare-ups
Avoid stressing vulnerable structures
Use proper body mechanics
Monitor patient continuously
"No pain, no gain" does NOT apply to rehab—listen to body
signals
📘 Vocabulary List
Term Definition
Active range of motion (patient moves joint
AROM
independently)
PROM Passive range of motion (movement done for the patient)
Contracture Permanent tightening of muscle or joint structures
Tenodesis Passive hand grip via wrist extension (used in C6 SCI)
End Feel Sensation at the end of a joint's passive ROM
Forceful exhalation against closed airway; avoid during
Valsalva
exercise
CPM Continuous Passive Motion machine
Manual
Therapist or assistant moves the limb/joint manually
PROM
