Hi;
Has anyone out there had a range of motion test (r.o.m)??? after subtalar joint fusion. If so what does it consist of? My doctor says i have a permanent disability and will have to go see a doctor now that will tell me what amount of disability i have it will probably include this type of tests. right now i have no side to side motion only up and down and certainly i have lost some of that also. any help would be appreciated.....Thanks Pam...

Pam,

I am not sure about a "test", but my PT consists of range of motion exercises. The therapist measured my range of motion on day one, and measures it about every third visit. It's just a V-shaped ruler, sort of like a protractor, that measures different angles of your foot as you try to move your foot in different ways.

My exercises are:

1. flex my foot up, point my foot down.
2. turn my foot out, turn my foot in.
3. write the alphabet with my toes.
4. make circular motions with my foot.

Your "test" will probably involve similar movements. They are called "active range of motion" exercises, where you only use the present strength in your foot to do the motion; there is also "passive range of motion" exercises, where someone (you or another person) pushes or pulls on your foot, as if to to stretch it. Passive ones are too painful for me at this time; it's only been three days out of the cast. Hopefully you don't have pain!

Hope that helps. good luck with the test.

Hi there,
I had range of motion improvement therapy when I used to go to my PT over the summer. It consisted of me sitting in a kind of high chair (similar to what's at your hair salon,) putting my leg in the air with my foot attached to a metal holder to keep it in place, then using my lower leg/ankle muscles to move the foot left to right. The whole contraption was hooked up to a computer that measured how far I could move my foot and how much effort I put into it. I had to do it 20 times on three different resistance settings. It hurt like crazy. This is what they did to improve my side-to-side motion. I am not sure if it worked or not but it was extremely tough work ... and I'm only 20 years old and in reasonably good shape.

At any rate, I wish you the best of luck in this. Feet problems are the worst.

Thanks for your posts;
I already had those kind of tests in pt/ the tests i am wondering about are the ones that tests the ankle for pressure and rom it is supposed to tell me what i can do as far as walking,working etc. guess it takes about 3 to 4 hours they say it is a test for stability. am under the impression it is for work mainly. the doctor does it. just curious if any one has done these kind of tests. and what it entails. thanks for info......Pam.....