Goniometric assessment was chosen for Joe due to the weakness of the muscles and loss of innervation to the hand. A comprehensive evaluation of joint range of motion is appropriate to improve functional abilities of his hand. Due to the extreme amount of stiffness in the left hand, goniometric assessment will enable the therapist to assessment will enable the therapist to assess dysfunction and start a rehabilitative program. Measurements of Joe's wrist and proximal interphalange

al finger joints were taken to provide new information on how the appropriate intervention activities were progressing him to a more functional range of motion. This was an appropriate evaluation tool because it provided information on how progression was made at each joint to alleviate stiffness and pain in Joe's left hand. The passive range of motion measurements provided information on how much Joe has improved since the beginning of treatment.

The process of evaluating Joe began by reviewing records to get an idea of his current symptoms and functional abilities. Palpation was used to locate specific bony landmarks in his wrist. There was some deformity of his wrist due to the trauma but the specific landmarks were located with some effort. Joe was very cooperative and willing to allow me to perform goniometric measurements on his wrist and hand. There were no problems with communication or positioning. Through this clinical assignment I learned that there is no magic cookbook in the way if positioning the patient. All bony landmarks must be in alignment and the fulcrum must be in the proper position. As long as these standards are followed, the patient can be positioned in a way that is most comfortable and what works best for the therapist. As students this is a great experience due to the fact that we have a limited amount of time while learning how to perform the measurements and must stick to the textbook. There were not any required adaptations to standard procedures. While administering this assessment, many additional facts were learned about the patient. Through verbal interaction I learned that Joe had a pure love and interest for carpentry throughout his life. There is an interest to return to productive activities and possibly work but this will not be a potential option due to the traumatic injury. Receivi

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1248
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)