Compensatory Movement during Goni

[fejin757]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone, how do you limit compensatory movements during goniometric assessment of, let's say, the hip? Hip hiking always throws off my reading, or I'll stop my reading prematurely in anticipation of the the hip hiking.

Thanks!

 

[goyo1010]

Depends on what you're measuring. Is it PROM or AROM? What movement are you measuring? Just make sure you're stabilizing, and watching for those compensatory movements. Are those compensatory movements easily correctable with cuing? Or are they because of an actual joint/soft tissue restriction, or pain? If they compensate 2/2 pain, then you can document P1, R1, etc.

For example, if you're doing hip internal and external rotation in sitting, make sure you stabilize the distal end of the femur to prevent adduction/abduction, or further flexion of the hip. Then move the tibia into whichever direction for hip external/internal rotation until you have a firm end-feel, but without pelvic tiltng or trunk lateral flexion.

 

[Fiveoboy11]

Yes,

Most important is being consistent in how you do it, and making sure you do the follow up measurements the exact same way. There is some usefulness in getting goniometric ROM measurements but keep in mind that the same, or better, info can be had by eyeballing it, observing and/or feeling the movement in place of or in addition to it.

 

[cbs301]

When taking measurements with a goniometer, it is critical to remember your bony landmarks. Take the knee for example, Make sure you line up with the greater trochanter and the lateral malleolus and it won't matter if the hip is hiked up. The alignment should be the same.

 

[Julie S]

Specifically for the shoulder, someone might compensate for IR by bringing the shoulder off of the mat (in supine). As long as you do this consistently, you can depress the acromion/coracoid process to get isolated glenohumeral internal rotation. You can also stabilize the lateral border of the scapula in order to get isolated glenohumeral flexion (instead of the whole shoulder complex, which you might also want to measure). Source: Norkin/Levangie, "measurement of joint motion"

For AROM of flexion and abduction I like to measure in standing with the back against the wall... it is more functional. You might also want to look for scaption. But definitely, do an active screen first and look for compensatory movements. Get a good end feel and follow up with mobility testing if applicable.