406 Unit 4 Healthcare Skills Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Procedure 13.7 Range-of-Motion Exercises Rationale Range-of-motion exercises are critical to maintain fl exibility, preserve movement, and pre vent skin infl ammation or injury, such as a decubitus ulcer. Preparation 1. Make sure you have a written doctor’s order and instructions from the appropriate provider to perform range-of-motion exercises. 2. Assemble the following equipment: • towels and/or bath blankets Note: When exercising limbs, perform all of the steps listed here on one side of the body, and then move to the other side. The Procedure 3. Lower the bed rail near you, if it is up. 4. Position the patient supine (fl at on the back). 5. Fanfold the top linens to the foot of the bed. Expose only the body part being exercised. 6. Exercising the neck • Exercise the neck only if it is allowed by your facility and/or if you have been instructed to do so. • Support the patient’s head and jaw with both hands (Figure 13.46). The head should be in a neutral position to start. Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 13.46 • Flexion—bring the head forward (Figure 13.47A). Unless contraindicated, the chin should touch the chest. • Extension—bring the head back (Figure 13.47B). Avoid hyperextension, or extending the neck beyond its normal limits. • Rotation—turn the head from side to side (Figure 13.48). • Lateral fl exion—move the head to the right and to the left (Figure 13.49). Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 13.47 A B Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 13.48 Wards Forest Media, LLC Figure 13.49