Normal range of motion (ROM) values
Reference chart · Reviewed by Kevin Lan, OTR/L, ATP · Updated July 2026
Normal range of motion is the number of degrees a healthy joint can move through, from its neutral starting position to its end range. The values below follow the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) normative reference standard used throughout clinical practice — for example, roughly 135° of knee flexion, 150° of elbow flexion, and 180° of shoulder flexion and abduction. Use them as a guide: actual ROM varies with age, sex, and body type. When it's time to write the measurement down, see how to document range of motion.
Printable chart: download the free one-page ROM chart (PDF) — every AAOS value on this page on a single printable sheet for the clinic wall, students, or your clipboard. Free to print and share.
Normal ROM at a glance
| Joint | Normal range of motion |
|---|---|
| Cervical spine | Flexion 45° · extension 45° · lateral flexion 45° · rotation 60° |
| Shoulder | Flexion 180° · extension 60° · abduction 180° · external rotation 90° · internal rotation 70° |
| Elbow & forearm | Flexion 150° · extension 0° · pronation 80° · supination 80° |
| Wrist | Flexion 80° · extension 70° · radial deviation 20° · ulnar deviation 30° |
| Hand & fingers | MCP flexion 90° · PIP flexion 100° · DIP flexion 90° · thumb MCP 50° · thumb IP 80° |
| Hip | Flexion 120° · extension 30° · abduction 45° · rotation 45° each way |
| Knee | Flexion 135° · extension 0° |
| Ankle | Dorsiflexion 20° · plantarflexion 50° · inversion 35° · eversion 15° |
Full per-movement tables for each joint follow below, with links to step-by-step measurement guides.
Cervical spine (neck) ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 45° |
| Extension | 45° |
| Lateral flexion (each side) | 45° |
| Rotation (each side) | 60° |
How to measure cervical (neck) range of motion — the inclinometer method, technique, and evidence.
Shoulder ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 180° |
| Extension | 60° |
| Abduction | 180° |
| Adduction | 40° |
| External (lateral) rotation | 90° |
| Internal (medial) rotation | 70° |
How to measure shoulder range of motion — flexion, extension, abduction, and rotation technique.
Elbow & forearm ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Elbow flexion | 150° |
| Elbow extension | 0° |
| Forearm pronation | 80° |
| Forearm supination | 80° |
How to measure elbow range of motion — flexion, extension, and forearm rotation technique.
Wrist ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 80° |
| Extension | 70° |
| Radial deviation | 20° |
| Ulnar deviation | 30° |
How to measure wrist range of motion — the most reliable alignment technique, flexion, extension, and deviation.
Hand & finger ROM
Finger and thumb norms are for flexion; full extension returns each joint to a 0° neutral. Total Active Motion (TAM) sums a digit's MCP, PIP, and DIP flexion minus any extension lag. Small digit joints are usually read with a dedicated finger goniometer rather than the full-size universal instrument.
| Joint | Normal flexion |
|---|---|
| Finger MCP (index–little) | 90° |
| Finger PIP (index–little) | 100° |
| Finger DIP (index–little) | 90° |
| Thumb MCP | 50° |
| Thumb IP | 80° |
How to measure finger and hand range of motion — finger goniometry, Total Active Motion (TAM), and technique.
Hip ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 120° |
| Extension | 30° |
| Abduction | 45° |
| Adduction | 30° |
| External rotation | 45° |
| Internal rotation | 45° |
How to measure hip range of motion — flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation technique with landmarks.
Knee ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Flexion | 135° |
| Extension | 0° |
How to measure knee range of motion — goniometer landmarks, step-by-step technique, and the reliability evidence.
Ankle ROM
| Movement | Normal ROM |
|---|---|
| Dorsiflexion | 20° |
| Plantarflexion | 50° |
| Inversion | 35° |
| Eversion | 15° |
How to measure ankle range of motion — dorsiflexion and plantarflexion technique with landmarks.
How these values are measured
Each value is the arc from the joint's anatomical neutral (0°) to its end range, measured with a goniometer, an inclinometer, or a smartphone goniometer app. Reliability depends more on technique than on the instrument: standardize the patient's position, align to the same landmark every time, zero at true neutral, and read only a steady end-range value. Smartphone inclinometry has been shown valid and reliable against the universal goniometer in peer-reviewed research. If you are choosing an instrument, digital goniometers and smartphone apps differ mainly in cost and workflow rather than in the underlying measurement, and the same criteria apply when choosing a goniometer app.
Measure these on your iPhone. Goniometer guides you through 55 movements with animated placement and shows the AAOS normal range beside every reading — free to measure. Readings save to patient profiles and export as PDF or CSV reports, and patient data stays encrypted on the device. Download Goniometer on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal range of motion?
Normal range of motion (ROM) is how far a healthy joint moves, measured in degrees from neutral to end range. The AAOS reference standard puts knee flexion near 135°, elbow flexion near 150°, and shoulder flexion and abduction near 180°. Norms are a guide — actual values vary with age, sex, and body type.
What is normal knee range of motion?
About 0° of extension (a fully straight leg) to 135° of flexion, per AAOS.
What is normal shoulder range of motion?
About 180° flexion, 60° extension, 180° abduction, 90° external (lateral) rotation, and 70° internal (medial) rotation, per AAOS.
What is normal cervical (neck) range of motion?
About 45° flexion, 45° extension, 45° lateral flexion to each side, and 60° rotation to each side, per AAOS.
How is joint range of motion measured?
In degrees, with a goniometer or inclinometer aligned to the joint axis — or a smartphone goniometer app that reads the phone's gravity-referenced motion sensor. The joint is moved from neutral to end range and the angle is read off the scale. See how an iPhone works as a goniometer for the sensor method in detail.
Is there a printable normal ROM chart?
Yes — download the free one-page ROM chart (PDF) with every AAOS value on this page. It's made for the clinic wall, student study sheets, or a clipboard, and is free to print and share.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Joint Motion: Method of Measuring and Recording. Chicago: AAOS. Normative range-of-motion reference values, as used throughout the Goniometer app.
- Norkin CC, White DJ. Measurement of Joint Motion: A Guide to Goniometry. 5th ed. F.A. Davis.
- Keogh JWL, Cox A, Anderson S, et al. Reliability and validity of clinically accessible smartphone applications to measure joint range of motion: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. 2019;14(5):e0215806. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215806
Goniometer is an educational and reference tool. It is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosis or treatment decisions.