A standardized manual goniometry protocol to quantify joint range of motion in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes persistent synovial inflammation, pain, and progressive joint damage that limits the range of motion. Although ROM is clinically relevant, in routine practice it is often assessed incompletely or only qualitatively. The technologies available to quantify it, such as digital inclinometers, electrogoniometers, and motion capture systems, are frequently limited by their cost, the infrastructure they require, and the difficulty of measuring impaired or deformed joints. This protocol describes a standardized manual goniometry procedure to quantify the ROM in six joint regions (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist) in women with established RA, using an accessible, portable, and inexpensive instrument. It covers participant recruitment and selection, preparation before the assessment, evaluator standardization, general measurement principles, and measurement of each joint, complemented by the calculation of the expected ROM percentage. The protocol allows joint impairment to be characterized by anatomical region and movement pattern, which supports clinical evaluation and the design of targeted interventions.•A standardized and reproducible manual goniometry protocol to quantify joint ROM in women with rheumatoid arthritis.•It covers six major joint regions (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist) using an inexpensive and portable universal goniometer.•It includes standardization of the evaluator and calculation of the expected ROM percentage, which allows comparison between joints and between individuals.