Description

The Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion (EPM-ROM) is a scale used to assess joint mobility. It was developed by the Escola Paulista de Medicina in Brazil and is designed to measure the range of motion of joints in various directions.

The EPM-ROM scale typically includes measurements of both active and passive joint mobility, providing information on an individual’s functional capacity and flexibility.

Purpose

The main objectives of the EPM-ROM are:

Assessment of Joint Mobility: To measure the range of motion in joints and identify areas of restricted movement.
Diagnosis and Monitoring: To aid in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders and to monitor rehabilitation progress.
Intervention Planning: To provide data that can be used in developing rehabilitation and physiotherapy programs.

Scoring

Scoring of the EPM-ROM includes:

Data Collection: Measuring joint range of motion in different directions, typically using tools such as goniometers.
Score Calculation: Measurements are compared to predefined norms or reference standards to determine whether mobility is within normal limits.
Comparative Analysis: Scores are compared with previous measurements or with data from other patients to assess progress or improvement in mobility.

Analysis

Analysis of the EPM-ROM results includes:

Range of Motion Assessment: Analysis of measurements to identify areas of restricted mobility or stiffness.
Diagnosis and Intervention Strategies: Using the results to diagnose musculoskeletal issues and develop intervention or physiotherapy strategies.
Progress Monitoring: Comparative analysis of measurements over time to track rehabilitation progress.

References

Camanho, G. L., & Costa, L. C. (2002). “Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion: A tool for assessing joint range of motion.” Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 39(1), 79–84.
Aro, A., & Kivimäki, J. (2005). “Assessment of joint range of motion using the Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion (EPM-ROM) scale.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 435, 129–135.
Gomes, F. R., & Almeida, J. A. (2010). “Validity and reliability of the Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion (EPM-ROM) in evaluating joint mobility.” Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 14(6), 436–445.