CROM Testing

Range of Motion (“ROM”) is the measurement of movement around a specific joint or body part. When evaluating disability based on musculoskeletal impairments, the Social Security Administration (the “SSA”) gives what many believe is uneven weight to ROM motion results. When the ROM findings are absent, the SSA denies disability applications on the grounds that the findings are essential to determining a claimant’s functionality. However, when clinical ROM findings indicate substantial reductions that support a disability claim, the SSA frequently gives them little weight on the grounds that it is unclear if the findings were accurately measured. 

I represent a 59 year old medical technologist with back problems. Like other applicants with back impairments, I submitted medical treatment and test records and functionality reports from her doctors. Unlike other applicants, I had the claimant go for computerized ROM (“CROM”) testing. And unlike most claimant’s with back problems, this client’s application was approved in less than 5 months. 

The CROM testing is the changed variable in this instance. Limited ROM can result from any injury or disease that causes mechanical problems, muscle spasms, joint pain, inflammation or swelling. My opinion is that as opposed to ROM testing, the CROM testing’s reliability is not questioned.