A goniometer is a device used to measure angles, typically in the field of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and biomechanics. It consists of a flat, circular, or semi-circular protractor-like instrument with an adjustable arm or arms. The primary purpose of a goniometer is to measure the range of motion at a joint in the body. Here's a basic overview of how a goniometer is used and some key points about its features

1. ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE OF
MOTION (ROM)
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2. CONTENTS
• Definition
• Type of ROM
• Components of range of motion
• Goniometry
• Measurement

3. RANGE OF MOTION
• Range of motion is the capability of a joint to go through
its complete spectrum of movements

5. TYPES OF ROM
• Active ▪ Pt able to perform the exercise independently
• Passive ▪ ROM performed by the Physiotherapist.
• Active assisted ▪ ROM performed by pt with assistance

6. ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION
• Active range of motion is movement of a joint provided
entirely by the individual performing the exercise. In this
case, there is no outside force aiding in the movement.

7. PASSIVE RANGE OF MOTION
• Movement that is performed completely by the
examiner
• Endpoints in the range of motion

8. TYPES OF ROM

9. COMPONENTS OF RANGE OF
MOTION
• Sex
• Age
• Race
• Shape of the bone and cartilage
• Muscle power and tone
• Muscle bulk
• Ligaments and joint capsule laxity
• Extensibility of the skin and subcutaneous
tissue

10. GONIOMETRY
A goniometer is an instrument that measures the available
range of motion at a joint. The art and science of measuring
the joint ranges in each plane of the joint are
called goniometry.

11. GONIOMETRY
• Stationary arm : placed parallel with the longitudinal
axis of the fixed part
• Movable arm : along the longitudinal axis of the
movable segment
• Axis of rotation(pin) : at the intersection of the
stationary & movable arms

12. GONIOMETRY

13. GONIOMETRY PROCEDURE
• position joint in zero position and stabilize
proximal joint component
• move joint to end of range of motion (to assess
quality of movement)
• determine end-feel at point where measurement
will be taken ( at end of available range of
motion)
• identify and palpate bony landmarks
• align goniometer with bony landmarks while
holding joint at end of range
• read the goniometer
• record measurement (e.g. elbow flexion = 130o)

14. TYPE OF GONIOMETER
① full-circle manual
universal goniometer
most versatile vs popular
② Goniometers for single
joint motion

15. TYPE OF GONIOMETER
③ fluid inclinometer
④ pendulum inclinometer
⑤ electro goniometer

16. MEASUREMENT
•Upper Ext.
•Lower Ext.
•Spine

17. UPPER EXT.
Test Position
Subject supine
Flatten lumbar spine (flex knees)
Shoulder no abduction, adduction
or rotation
(note: to measure glenohumeral
motion, stabilize scapula)
Shoulder flexion
(0~180°)
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of humeral
head near acromion process
• Stationary arm – parallel
mid-axillary line
• Moving arm – aligned with
midline of humerus (lateral
epicondyle)

18. SHOULDER EXTENSION (0~60°)
Test Position
Subject prone
Shoulder no abduction, adduction or
rotation
(note: to measure gleno-humeral
motion, stabilize scapula)
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of humeral head near acromion process
• Stationary arm – parallel mid-axillary line
• Moving arm – aligned with midline of humerus (lateral epicondyle)

19. SHOULDER ABDUCTION (0~180°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Shoulder 0° flexion and extension
Shoulder laterally (externally) rotated
Shoulder abducted
Stabilize thorax (note: to measure glenohumeral
motion, stabilize scapula)

20. SHOULDER ABDUCTION
(0~180°)
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of humeral head near acromion process
• Stationary arm – parallel to sternum
• Moving arm – aligned with midline of humerus

21. SHOULDER EXTERNAL ROTATION
(0~90°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Shoulder 90° abduction
Forearm neutral
Elbow flexed 90°
Stabilize arm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – olecranon process of ulna
• Stationary arm – aligned vertically
• Moving arm – aligned with ulna (styloid process)

22. SHOULDER INTERNAL ROTATION
(0~70°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Shoulder 90° abduction
Forearm neutral
Elbow flexed 90°
Stabilize arm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – olecranon process of ulna
• Stationary arm – aligned vertically
• Moving arm – aligned with ulna (styloid process)

23. ELBOW FLEXION (0~150°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Shoulder neutral (arm at side)
Forearm supinated
Elbow flexed
Stabilize arm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Stationary arm – aligned with humerus (center of acromion process)
• Moving arm – aligned with radius (styloid process)

24. ELBOW EXTENSION (150~0°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Shoulder neutral (arm at side)
Forearm supinated
Elbow extended
Stabilize arm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral epicondyle of humerus
• Stationary arm – aligned with humerus (center of acromion process)
• Moving arm – aligned with radius (styloid process)

25. FOREARM PRONATION (0~80°)
Test Position
Subject sitting
Shoulder neutral (arm at side)
Elbow flexed to 90°
Stabilize arm
Pronate forearm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral to ulnar styloid
• Stationary arm – parallel to humerus
• Moving arm – aligned with dorsum of radius

26. FOREARM SUPINATION (0~80°)
Test Position
Subject sitting
Shoulder neutral (arm at side)
Elbow flexed to 90°
Stabilize arm
Supinate forearm
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – medial to ulnar styloid
• Stationary arm – parallel to humerus
• Moving arm – aligned with ventral aspect of radius

27. WRIST FLEXION (0~80°)
Test Position
Subject seated
Forearm stabilized on table
Flex wrist
(fingers relaxed)
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral wrist (triquetrum)
• Stationary arm – aligned with ulna
• Moving arm – aligned with fifth metacarpal

28. WRIST EXTENSION (0~70°)
Test Position
Subject seated
Forearm stabilized on table
Extend wrist
(fingers relaxed)
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral wrist (triquetrum)
• Stationary arm – aligned with ulna
• Moving arm – aligned with fifth metacarpal

29. RADIAL DEVIATION (0~20°)
Test Position
Subject sitting with forearm
resting on table
Stabilize forearm to prevent
pronation or supination
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – capitate
• Stationary arm – aligned with forearm (lateral epicondyle)
• Moving arm – aligned with metacarpal of middle finger

30. ULNAR DEVIATION (0~30°)
Test Position
Subject sitting with forearm
resting on table
Stabilize forearm to prevent
pronation or supination
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – capitate
• Stationary arm – aligned with forearm (lateral epicondyle)
• Moving arm – aligned with metacarpal of middle finger

31. LOWER EXT.
Test Position
Subject supine
Allow knee to flex (to avoid
limitation by tight hamstrings)
Stabilize pelvis to prevent
rotation, Hip flex.
Hip flexion (0~120°)
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – greater trochanter
• Stationary arm – aligned with midline of plevis
• Moving arm – aligned with femur (lateral epicondyle)

32. HIP EXTENSION (0~30°)
Test Position
Subject prone
Stabilize pelvis to prevent rotation
Extend hip
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – greater trochanter
• Stationary arm – aligned with midline of plevis
• Moving arm – aligned with femur (lateral epicondyle)

33. HIP ABDUCTION (0~45°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Stabilize pelvis to prevent pelvic list
Abduct hip
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
• Stationary arm – aligned with opposite ASIS
• Moving arm – aligned with femur (center of patella)

34. HIP ADDUCTION (0~30°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Stabilize pelvis to prevent pelvic list
Abduct opposite hip (to allow room for
tested limb to adduct)
Adduct hip
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
• Stationary arm – aligned with opposite ASIS
• Moving arm – aligned with femur (center of patella)

35. HIP INTERNAL ROTATION (0~45°)
Test Position
Subject sitting on table
knee flexed
Stabilize distal thigh
medially (internally) rotate hip
Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of patella
• Stationary arm – aligned vertically
• Moving arm – aligned with leg (crest of tibia)

36. HIP EXTERNAL ROTATION (0~45°)
Test Position
Subject sitting on table
knee flexed
Stabilize distal thigh
hip laterally (externally) rotated
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of patella
• Stationary arm – aligned vertically
• Moving arm – aligned with leg (crest of tibia)

37. KNEE FLEXION (0~135°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Allow hip to flex
Flex knee
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral epicondyle of femur
• Stationary arm – aligned with greater trochanter
• Moving arm – aligned with lateral malleolus

38. KNEE EXTENSION (135~0°)
Test Position
Subject prone
Stabilize femur
Extend Knee
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral epicondyle of femur
• Stationary arm – aligned with greater trochanter
• Moving arm – aligned with lateral malleolus

39. ANKLE PLANTAR FLEXION (0~50°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Extend knee
Stabilize leg
Plantar Flex ankle
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral malleolus
• Stationary arm – aligned with fibular head
• Moving arm – aligned with fifth metatarsal

40. ANKLE DORSIFLEXION (0~20°)
Test Position
Subject prone
Flex knee
Stabilize subtalar in neutral
Dorsiflex ankle by pushing through
5th metatarsal head
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – lateral malleolus
• Stationary arm – aligned with fibular head
• Moving arm – aligned with fifth metatarsal

41. ANKLE INVERSION (0~35°)
Test Position
Subject prone
Stabilize tibia in sagittal plane
(rotate hip or pelvis to align tibia)
Invert calcaneus
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – automatically positioned by alignment of goniometer
arms
• Stationary arm – aligned with midline of leg
• Moving arm – aligned with midline of calcaneus

42. ANKLE EVERSION (0~15°)
Test Position
Subject supine
Stabilize calcaneus and talus
Evert forefoot
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – automatically positioned by alignment of
goniometer arms
• Stationary arm – aligned with midline of leg
• Moving arm – aligned with plantar aspect of metatarsal
heads

43. SPINE
CERVICAL SPINE FORWARD BENDING (FLEXION)
Test Position
Subject sitting with lumbar and
thoracic spines supported
Stabilize lumbar and thoracic
spines
Flex cervical spine
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – external auditory meatus
• Stationary arm – vertical
• Moving arm – aligned with nostrils

44. CERVICAL SPINE BACKWARD BENDING
(EXTENSION)
Test Position
Subject sitting with lumbar and thoracic
spines supported
Stabilize lumbar and thoracic spines
Mouth relaxed and slightly open
Extend cervical spine
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – external auditory meatus
• Stationary arm – vertical
• Moving arm – aligned with nostrils

45. CERVICAL SPINE SIDEBENDING
Test Position
Subject sitting with lumbar and thoracic
spines supported
Stabilize lumbar and thoracic spines
Sidebend cervical spine
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – spinous process of C7
• Stationary arm – spinous processes of thoracic spine
• Moving arm – posterior midline of head at occipital
protuberance

46. CERVICAL SPINE ROTATION
Test Position
Subject sitting with lumbar and thoracic
spines supported
Stabilize lumbar and thoracic spines
Rotate cervical spine
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis – center of superior aspect of head
• Stationary arm – aligned with acromion processes
• Moving arm – aligned with tip of nose

47. THORACO-LUMBAR SPINE
FORWARD BENDING (FLEXION)
Test Position
Subject standing
Flex thoracic and lumbar
spines
Tape Measure Alignment
Spinous processes of C7
and S1

48. THORACO-LUMBAR SPINE
BACKWARD BENDING (EXTENION)
Test Position
Subject standing
Extend thoracic and lumbar
spines
Tape Measure Alignment
Spinous processes of C7
and S1

49. THORACO-LUMBAR SPINE
SIDEBENDING
Test Position
Subject standing
Stabilize pelvis
Sidebend thoracic and lumbar
spines
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis - S1 spinous process
• Stationary arm - vertical
• Moving arm - C7 spinous process

50. THORACO-LUMBAR SPINE ROTATION
Test Position
Subject sitting
Stabilize pelvis
Do not allow sidebending, forward
bending or backward bending
Rotate thoracic and lumbar spines
• Goniometer Alignment
• Axis - center of superior aspect of head
• Stationary arm - aligned with anterior superior iliac spines
• Moving arm - aligned with acromion processes