During passive ROM for the shoulder, which movement is categorized as Rotation?

• A. Flexion/Extension (Up/Down)
• B. Abduction/Adduction (Side/Side)
• C. Rotation (Around)
• D. Circumduction (Circles)

Answer: (C)

In this context, rotation means turning the arm around its long axis at the shoulder joint, producing internal or external rotation. During passive ROM, you move the limb while the person is relaxed, and rotation specifically refers to rotating the humerus so the front or back of the arm turns toward or away from the body’s midline (internal or external rotation).

This is distinct from flexion/extension, which are movements up and down in the sagittal plane (lifting the arm forward or bringing it back), and from abduction/adduction, which are movements away from or toward the midline in the frontal plane. Circumduction, meanwhile, is a circular, cone-like motion that combines several movements, including some flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation, but is not the pure rotation itself.

So the movement categorized as rotation is turning the arm around its axis at the shoulder (internal or external rotation).