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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Assessment and Examination

Goniometer

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/ˌɡoʊniˈɑːmɪtər/nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, goniometer means: A measuring tool with two arms joined at a hinge, used to measure the angle of a joint in degrees.

In Turkish: gonyometre, açıölçer

How it is used

Physiotherapists line up the centre of the goniometer with the joint and its arms with the bones, then read the angle. They record results such as 'knee flexion 0–115° measured with a goniometer'. Smartphone apps and inclinometers are sometimes used instead. Measuring joint angles is called goniometry.

Example sentences

  1. Can you pass me the goniometer? I want to measure his elbow extension.

  2. We measure knee range with a goniometer at every session after the operation.

Common collocations

  • measure with a goniometer
  • goniometer reading
  • long-arm goniometer
  • goniometry
  • range of motionHow far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.
  • active range of motionHow far a joint can move when the patient moves it with their own muscles, without any help.
  • objective assessmentThe part of a physiotherapy assessment in which the physiotherapist observes, measures and tests the patient's body, for example movement, strength and special tests.
  • flexionA bending movement that makes the angle between two parts of the body smaller, such as bending the elbow or the knee.

More terms: Assessment and Examination

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.