Accessory motion
The motion that occurs between joint surfaces during normal physiological motion; also called joint play.
Active motion
Movement produced by contraction of the muscles crossing a joint.
Adhesion
Binding together of normally separate anatomical structures by scar tissue.
Capsular pattern of restriction
A pattern of motion loss that is caused by shortening of the joint capsule.
Contractile tissue
Tissue, such as muscle and tendon, that is able to shorten.
Contracture
Fixed shortening of soft tissue structures that restricts passive and active motion and can cause permanent deformity.
Creep
Transient lengthening or deformation of connective tissues with the application of a fixed load.
End-feel
The quality of resistance at the limit of passive motion as felt by the clinician.
Extraarticular edema
Excessive fluid outside of a joint.
Goniometer
A tool used to measure joint range of motion.
Intraarticular edema
Excessive fluid within a joint capsule.
Noncapsular pattern of restriction
A pattern of motion loss that does not follow the capsular pattern.
Noncontractile tissue
Tissue that cannot actively shorten, for example, skin, ligament, and cartilage.
Osteophyte
An abnormal bony outgrowth, as seen in arthritis.
Passive accessory motion
The motion between joint surfaces produced by an external force without voluntary muscle contraction.
Passive motion
Movement produced entirely by an external force without voluntary muscle contraction.
Passive stretching
A type of muscle stretching in which the limb is moved passively.
Physiological motion
The motion of one segment of the body relative to another segment.
Plastic deformation
The elongation of connective tissue produced under loading that remains after the load is removed.
Range of motion (ROM)
The amount of motion that occurs when one segment of the body moves in relation to an adjacent segment.
Stress relaxation
A decrease in the amount of force required over time to maintain a certain length of connective tissue.