The nurse is providing passive range of motion (ROM) exercises to the hip and knee. Which technique best protects the limb?

• A. Stabilize the pelvis
• B. Use rapid, forceful movements
• C. Grasp the knee and twist
• D. Cradle the client’s heel

Answer: (D)

During passive ROM of the hip and knee, keeping the leg well-supported and aligned is essential to prevent injury. Cradling the heel provides distal support, allowing you to move the limb as a unit while maintaining proper alignment of the knee and hip. This reduces the chance of twisting, hyperextending, or placing undue stress on ligaments and joints, and it distributes pressure away from the knee and ankle. Rapid, forceful movements or grasping the knee and twisting can cause harm, and stabilizing the pelvis alone doesn’t offer the same protection to the entire limb. So, supporting the heel is the best way to protect the limb during these movements.