ROM

ROM is common shorthand in business and project management for quickly estimating how much work is required or the cost of a task. It's not about precision but giving a ballpark figure to help stakeholders understand the scope without getting bogged down in details. When time is tight and decisions need to be made quickly, ROM comes in handy, functioning much like a verbal shot from the hip.

Its usage traces back to engineering and construction circles but has since expanded into various fields, especially during initial project planning phases. ROM offers a snapshot that guides decision-making, ensuring everyone has a general idea of what's at stake before diving deep into specifics.

ROM (range of motion) is a measurement of how well you can move a joint. It is typically measured during a physical therapy session using a device called a goniometer.

How is ROM measured?

A goniometer is a two-armed device that can bend with your limbs or joints. Physical therapists use a goniometer to measure how far you can move a joint in specific directions. Together, these individual measurements comprise your ROM.

In some cases, physical therapists may also use an inclinometer or even a good ol' tape measurer to measure ROM, depending on the joint they're interested in.

Are there different kinds of ROM?

There sure are. Physical therapists may refer to three different types of ROM and ROM exercises, which are:

• Passive range of motion (PROM): This is range of motion achieved when someone else is moving your joint.
• Active range of motion (AROM): This is range of motion achieved when only you are moving your joint.
• Active assistive range of motion (AAROM): This is range of motion achieved when you are moving your joint with the assistance of another person or a machine.

You may also see limited range of motion, a condition in which a person's joint is not as flexible as it should be, referred to as LROM.