GONIOMETRY FOR THE LOWERLIMB DISCUSSES IN CONCISE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GONIOMETERS AVAILABLE FOR MEASURING VARIOUS JOINT ROM, PRINCIPLES OF GONIOMETRY, AND PLACEMENT OF GONIOMETER FOR MEASURING RANGE OF MOTION IN THE LOWER LIMB (HIP, KNEE, ANKLE).

1. Goniometry
Lower limb ROM
Dr. Peteti Sairam
MPT(Neuro)
Asst.Professor

2. PROCEDURE
 Position the patient in a relaxed manner and the joint to be measured
should be free from obstructions like pillows, couch.
 Patient has to wear loose clothes, to allow smoot movement of the
measuring joint.
 Measuring joint has to be in neural position or it has to be at 0⁰ position.
 Total procedure has to explain to the patient.
 Therapist has to stand near to the patient and facing the joint, which has to
be measured.
 Axis or the fulcrum of the goniometer is placed over the axis of the joint
to be measured.
 Stable arm is fixed to the proximal segment of the joint.
 Movable arm is fixed with the distal segment of the joint.
 Therapist has to move the distal segment of the joint with the movable
arm of the goniometer to measure the joint range.

3. SELECTION OF THE GONIOMETER
 An important factor for measuring ROM.
 Size of the joint
-Bigger the joint = Size of goniometer is big, movable arm and stable arm
bigger in length.
-Smaller the joint = Size of goniometer is small, movable arm and stable arm
smaller in length.
 An inclinometer also can be used for the measuring the joint ROM, specifically
used for measuring pelvic movements

4. MOVEMENTS OF LOWER LIMB
HIP KNEE ANKLE
1. FLEXION
2. EXTENSION
3. ABDUCTION
4. ADDUCTION
5. MEDIAL ROTATION
6. LATEAL ROTATION
1. FLEXION
2. EXTENSION
1. DORSIFLEXION
2. PLANTAR FLEXION
SUBTALAR JOINT
1. INVERSION
2. EVERSION

5. HIP MOVEMENTS
FLEXION
 Position of patient: Supine lying
 Axis: Greater trochanter of femur
 Movable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of thigh
 Stable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of lower trunk
 Normal ROM: 0 to 120 ⁰

6. HIP MOVEMENTS
EXTENSION
 Position of patient: Prone lying
 Axis: Greater trochanter of femur
 Movable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of thigh
 Stable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of lower
trunk
 Normal ROM: 0 to 30 ⁰

7. HIP MOVEMENTS
ABDUCTION
 Position of patient: Supine lying
 Axis: 2 inch below the ASIS
 Movable arm: Mid line of anterior aspect of thigh
 Stable arm: Placed 90 ⁰ to the movable arm
 Normal ROM: 0 to 45 ⁰

8. HIP MOVEMENTS
ADDUCTION
 Position of patient: Supine lying
 Axis: 2 inch below the ASIS
 Movable arm: Mid line of anterior aspect of
thigh
 Stable arm: Placed 90 ⁰ to the movable arm
 Normal ROM: 0 to 30 ⁰

9. HIP MOVEMENTS
MEDIAL ROTATION
 Position of patient: High sitting at the end of couch with
legs kept hanging
 Axis: Mid point of patella
 Movable arm: midline of anterior aspect of leg
 Stable arm: straight line to the movable arm
 Normal ROM: 0 to 45 ⁰

10. HIP MOVEMENTS
LATERAL ROTATION
 Position of patient: High sitting at the end of couch
with legs kept hanging
 Axis: Mid point of patella
 Movable arm: midline of anterior aspect of leg
 Stable arm: straight line to the movable arm
 Normal ROM: 0 to 45 ⁰

11. KNEE MOVEMENTS
FLEXION
 Position of patient: Prone lying
 Axis: Lateral epicondyle of femur
 Movable arm: Lateral aspect of midline of leg
 Stable arm: Lateral aspect of midline of thigh
 Normal ROM: 0 to 135 ⁰

12. KNEE MOVEMENTS
EXTENSION
 Position of patient: Prone lying
 Axis: Lateral epicondyle of femur
 Movable arm: Lateral aspect of midline of leg
 Stable arm: Lateral aspect of midline of thigh
 Normal ROM: 0 ⁰

13. ANKLE MOVEMENTS
PLANTAR FLEXION
 Position of patient: High sitting at the end of couch
with legs kept hanging
 Axis: Tip of medial malleolus
 Movable arm: Lateral aspect of foot
 Stable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of leg
 Normal ROM: 0 to 50 ⁰

14. ANKLE MOVEMENTS
DORSI FLEXION
 Position of patient: High sitting at the end of couch
with legs kept hanging
 Axis: Tip of medial malleolus
 Movable arm: Lateral aspect of foot
 Stable arm: Mid line of lateral aspect of leg
 Normal ROM: 0 to 20 ⁰

15. OTHER METHODS FOR PLANTAR AND DORSI FLEXION
PRONE LYING WITH KNEE 90 ⁰
FLEXION
SUPINE LYING

16. SUB TALAR JOINT MOVEMENTS
INVERSION
 Position of patient: High sitting, with legs kept
hanging.
 Axis: Between two malleoli
 Movable arm: Over the mid line of foot
 Stable arm: Placed at the mid line of leg
 Normal ROM: 0 to 35 ⁰

17. SUB TALAR JOINT MOVEMENTS
EVERSION
 Position of patient: Prone lying, with foot kept
hanging.
 Axis: Between two malleoli
 Movable arm: Over the mid line of calcaneum
 Stable arm: Aligned to the mid line of leg
 Normal ROM: 0 to 15 ⁰