What is the normal ROM for the elbow?

• A. 150 degrees
• B. 120 degrees
• C. 135 degrees
• D. 180 degrees

Answer: (A)

Normal elbow ROM is about how far the elbow can bend from a straight arm. In a typical adult, elbow flexion reaches roughly 140–150 degrees, with extension being 0 degrees (a straight arm) and a small amount of hyperextension sometimes present. Because the standard reference for maximum elbow flexion is about 150 degrees, that value best represents normal ROM. The other numbers are lower than the common maximum, so they don’t reflect the usual reference range for elbow flexion.