Which neuromuscular factor includes tone, control, and muscle mass and can influence range of motion such that decreased tone leads to hypermobility and increased tone leads to restricted ROM?

• A. Tone, control, and muscle mass
• B. Functional movement capacity
• C. Individual variation
• D. Arthritis

Answer: (A)

Neuromuscular properties—tone, motor control, and muscle mass—shape how freely a joint can move. When tone is low, there’s less passive resistance from muscles, which can allow greater movement and lead to hypermobility. When tone is high, muscles are stiffer and resist movement, which can restrict range of motion. Good motor control ensures smooth, coordinated activation that prevents unnecessary or excessive motion, further influencing ROM. Together, these factors explain how the neuromuscular system sets the amount of motion a joints allows beyond its anatomical structures.

This is why the option that explicitly names tone, control, and muscle mass as the neuromuscular factors is the best fit. Other choices describe broader concepts—functional movement capacity, individual variation, or arthritis—that don’t directly address how neuromuscular properties modulate ROM.