During passive range of motion, what is the first step?

• A. Raise bed to comfortable working height; lock wheels.
• B. Position resident supine with pillow under head.
• C. Begin with elbow flexion and extension.
• D. Support the foot from behind the ankles.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is safety and proper setup before performing passive range of motion. Raising the bed to a comfortable working height and locking the wheels is done first because it creates a stable, accessible position for you and prevents the bed from shifting while you move the resident’s joints. This protects both you and the resident from injury and makes it easier to support the limb smoothly.

After establishing a safe setup, you would then position the resident for comfort and access and proceed with the ROM movements in a systematic, gentle manner. The other options describe later steps—adjusting positioning for comfort or starting specific joint movements—but they depend on having a stable setup first.