What movements are included in the USA cue used for passive ROM?

• A. Up/Down, Front/Back, Across
• B. Up/Down, Side/Side, Around
• C. In/Out, Tilt, Spin
• D. Flex/Extend, Rotate, Lift

Answer: (B)

The movements used in the USA cue for passive ROM are organized into three basic directions to cover all planes of motion: vertical, lateral, and circular. Up/Down signals vertical movement (moving the limb up or down, which corresponds to flexion/extension in many joints), Side/Side signals lateral movement (toward or away from the body, i.e., abduction/adduction), and Around signals circular or rotational movement (circumduction or rotation). This simple three-part cue ensures you guide the joint through its full range in all directions. The other phrasings don’t match this standard three-direction framework, so they don’t align with the USA cue as the method for directing passive ROM.