What This Means
Range of motion, the degree to which you can move a joint through its natural arc, directly affects your ability to perform daily tasks. When arthritis limits range of motion, simple actions become difficult: bending down to tie shoes, reaching overhead, fully straightening your knee to walk normally.
Increasing range of motion means restoring the joint flexibility you need for daily life. While some loss may be permanent in advanced arthritis, most patients can achieve meaningful improvements with appropriate treatment. The goal is functional range of motion, the movement you need for the activities that matter to you.
How It’s Achieved
Range of motion improvement requires addressing both mechanical restrictions and pain that limits movement.
Reduce Pain That Limits Motion
Often, range of motion is limited not by structural changes but by pain that stops you from moving fully. When you anticipate pain at certain points in a movement, you unconsciously limit your motion. Reducing this pain allows exploration of your true mechanical range.
Viscosupplementation
Hyaluronic acid injections improve joint lubrication, reducing the friction and pain that occur during movement. With less pain per degree of motion, patients often find they can move farther than they thought possible.
Corticosteroid Injections
When inflammation is restricting motion, corticosteroid injections can provide rapid improvement. This is particularly valuable when inflammation has caused recent range of motion loss, creating an opportunity for physical therapy to restore movement.
Restore Mechanical Movement
Physical Therapy
Targeted stretching and mobilization are the foundation of range of motion improvement:
- Progressive stretching to the point of resistance, not pain
- Joint mobilization techniques performed by therapists
- Active assisted exercises that gradually increase range
- Strengthening exercises through the available range
Physical therapists assess your specific limitations and design programs addressing your particular restrictions.
Home Exercise Programs
Consistent daily stretching maintains and builds on therapy gains:
- Morning stretches to address overnight stiffness
- Multiple brief stretching sessions throughout the day
- Gentle end-range holds to encourage tissue adaptation
- Movement through your available range during daily activities
What to Expect
Range of motion improvement varies by joint and condition:
Weeks 1-4: Pain reduction begins, allowing you to explore your actual range. You may find you can move farther than you expected once pain is reduced.
Weeks 4-8: Active stretching and therapy produce measurable gains. Typical improvement is 10-20 degrees in significantly restricted joints.
Weeks 8-12: Maximum improvement from current treatment is usually reached. You establish your new baseline range.
Ongoing: Maintained stretching prevents losing gains and may produce small continued improvements.
Realistic Expectations
Not all range of motion can be restored. Structural changes from advanced arthritis, including bone spurs and cartilage loss, can physically block movement. However:
- Functional range often improves even when full range does not
- Pain-free range is often larger than painful restricted range
- Compensatory movements can help accomplish tasks
- Improvement in one direction may help overall function
Real Patient Experiences
Range of motion improvements affect daily life in practical ways:
- “I could not fully straighten my knee before treatment. Now I walk with a normal gait instead of a limp.”
- “Reaching overhead was impossible with my shoulder. After PT and injections, I can get dishes from upper cabinets again.”
- “My hip would not rotate enough for me to put on socks. That was my goal, and I achieved it.”
Success factors:
- Consistent daily stretching program
- Treatment early in the disease process
- Patience with gradual improvement
- Focus on functional goals
- Avoiding pushing through significant pain
Measuring Your Progress
Track range of motion improvement:
- Specific movements that have become easier
- Activities you can now perform
- Degrees of improvement (if measured)
- Pain level at end range
- Functional abilities regained
Maintaining Gains
Range of motion improvements can be lost without maintenance:
- Continue daily stretching even after formal therapy ends
- Move joints through their full available range daily
- Address flares promptly before they cause stiffening
- Return to physical therapy if you notice losses
- Stay active with joint-friendly movement
When Full Range Is Not Possible
If your joint cannot achieve normal range of motion:
- Focus on functional range for your priority activities
- Learn compensatory techniques for limited movements
- Consider adaptive equipment for difficult tasks
- Discuss surgical options if limitations are severe
- Work with your healthcare team to optimize available movement