Why Passive Range of Motion Testing Falls Short: Assess Movement Under Load Instead
Oct 17, 2026
So many courses teach movement assessment using passive range of motion testing, then correlate a compensation in a loaded exercise to a loss of range of motion on the table. I'll be honest: I struggle to believe this makes sense.
The body works differently under load
The body operates completely differently when it's loaded against gravity. What's amazing is that we can shift someone out of their compensation and improve their range of motion at a joint by assessing these patterns with active assessments, and then cueing them or providing constraints that improve their movement patterns.
Clients keep getting stronger
The best part is that people aren't lying on a table, they're continuing to get stronger. The last thing I want to do with my clients is lay them on a table so they feel broken, or take away time from actually lifting.
What I teach
This is exactly what I teach in my course. We use active range of motion testing and hone our eye until it's incredibly sharp at seeing compensations, instead of testing whether someone has enough internal rotation lying down.
If you want to be the trainer who wows clients because they feel their glutes burn for the first time, rather than showing them that their hip internal rotation improved on a passive assessment, I'd love to show you how.
Keep exploring
Learn the full approach in Empowered Performance, try the free Spinal Health in Motion course, or move with me in Alchemy.
