A patient with a left-sided cerebrovascular accident should be provided with which intervention to maintain joint mobility?

A patient with a left-sided cerebrovascular accident should be provided with which intervention to maintain joint mobility?

• A. Approach the client from the right side.
• B. Elevate left extremities on a pillow.
• C. Provide full range of motion four or five times a day.
• D. Wrap affected hand into a fist.

Answer: (C)

Maintaining joint mobility after a stroke relies on moving the joints through their full range of motion on a regular schedule. Regular range-of-motion exercises—done four to five times a day—keep muscles from shortening, prevent contractures, and preserve joint flexibility as recovery progresses. This active or passive movement also supports circulation and helps maintain tissue length, making it the most effective way to preserve mobility in the affected limbs. Other options don’t actively promote joint movement: elevating a limb on a pillow doesn't address mobility and can contribute to stiffness if used without movement; wrapping the hand into a fist encourages a fixed, clenched posture and contractures rather than flexibility; choosing which side to approach is more about safety and positioning than about preserving mobility.

Maintaining joint mobility after a stroke relies on moving the joints through their full range of motion on a regular schedule. Regular range-of-motion exercises—done four to five times a day—keep muscles from shortening, prevent contractures, and preserve joint flexibility as recovery progresses. This active or passive movement also supports circulation and helps maintain tissue length, making it the most effective way to preserve mobility in the affected limbs.

Other options don’t actively promote joint movement: elevating a limb on a pillow doesn't address mobility and can contribute to stiffness if used without movement; wrapping the hand into a fist encourages a fixed, clenched posture and contractures rather than flexibility; choosing which side to approach is more about safety and positioning than about preserving mobility.