Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center

Range of Motion for the Knee Joint

Motion	Examiner Position	Model Position	Examiner Instruction	Hand Placement	Muscles Involved	Possible Substitutions	Things to Note
Flexion	Standing on test side of patient	Prone on exam table with feet hanging off the edge	Passive ROM Have patient relax Active ROM Have patient perform motion after you demonstrate it; instruct them to pull their heal towards their buttocks or perform hamstring curl Resistive ROM Have patient perform active knee flexion while applying resistance through full range of motion OR instructs patient to maintain knee extension while you apply overpressure into extension	Passive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over posterior thigh; motion hand placed at anterior surface of shin above ankle Active ROM Patient actively produces motion Resistive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over postieror thigh; resistance hand placed over posterior aspect of lower leg just proximal to the ankle	Biceps femoris Semitendinosus Semimembranosus	Hip Flexion: watch for raising of buttocks Sartorius: watch for hip flexion and external rotation Gracilis: watch for hip abduction Gastrocnemius: watch for strong plantarflexion
Extension	Standing in front of patient on test side	Short sitting with knee flexed	Passive ROM Have patient relax Active ROM Have patient perform motion after you demonstrate it; instruct them to pull their heal towards their buttocks or perform hamstring curl Resistive ROM Have patient perform active knee extension while applying resistance through full range of motion OR instructs patient to maintain knee extension while you apply overpressure into flexion	Passive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh; motion hand placed at posterior surface of shin above ankle Active ROM Patient actively produces motion Resistive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh; resistance hand placed over anterior aspect of lower leg just proximal to the ankle	Quadriceps-Rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis
Internal Rotation	In front of patient on test side	Short sitting	Passive ROM Have patient relax Active ROM Have patient perform motion after you demonstrate it Resistive ROM Have patient perform active knee internal rotation while applying resistance through full range of motion OR instructs patient to maintain knee external rotation while you apply overpressure into external rotation	Passive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh; motion hand placed at lateral side of foot Active ROM Patient actively produces motion Resistive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh just proximal to the knee; resistance hand placed over medial aspect of the foot
External Rotation	In front of patient on test side	Short sitting	Passive ROM Have patient relax Active ROM Have patient perform motion after you demonstrate it Resistive ROM Have patient perform active knee external rotation while applying resistance through full range of motion OR instructs patient to maintain knee external rotation while you apply overpressure into internal rotation	Passive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh; motion hand placed at medial side of foot Active ROM Patient actively produces motion Resistive ROM Stabilizing hand placed over anterior thigh just proximal to the knee; resistance hand placed over lateral aspect of the foot