What occurs during active range of motion?

Active range of motion (ROM) refers to exercises where the individual engages in movement of their own joints without assistance. This allows the resident to actively move their limbs to their full extent, promoting muscular strength, flexibility, and overall joint health. When residents perform range of motion exercises independently, they are actively participating in their care, contributing to their rehabilitation or maintenance of mobility.

This self-directed movement is vital as it encourages engagement and may improve both physical and psychological well-being. The involvement in such movements fosters a sense of independence and ownership over their physical health, making it an important aspect of rehabilitation and mobility enhancement within a nursing care environment.

The other choices describe different types of range of motion exercises. When a CNA performs the ROM exercises, it would be considered passive range of motion since the resident is not actively moving their joints themselves. A machine assisting would also indicate a form of passive range of motion, and complete passiveness would mean the resident is not engaging in any movement at all. All these alternatives highlight scenarios where the resident is either assisted or not participating actively, distinguishing them from the concept of active range of motion.