Active Assisted ROM (AAROM) involves which of the following?

• A. Therapist helps patient move limb through ROM after tissue manipulation to reduce fear avoidance behavior, increase joint lubrication, and re-educate neuromuscular pathways
• B. Patient moves limb through ROM without assistance
• C. Only passive motion by mechanical devices
• D. Strength training with resistance

Answer: (A)

Active Assisted ROM means the patient actively initiates movement of a joint but receives help from the therapist or a device to complete the motion. This approach sits between passive ROM (where the therapist moves the joint entirely) and active ROM (where the patient moves without any help). The idea is to engage the neuromuscular system and begin strengthening while the external assistance protects healing tissues and helps guide range. The statement describing the therapist assisting movement through ROM after tissue manipulation to reduce fear avoidance, improve joint lubrication, and re-educate neuromuscular pathways captures this concept well. Moving the limb without assistance is active ROM, purely passive motion by devices is PROM, and resistance-based strengthening is not ROM.