Final answer:
A PCT should conduct flexion and extension exercises on a patient's elbow to maintain or improve its range of motion, with additional pronation and supination movements for the forearm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The range of motion (ROM) exercises that a Patient Care Technician (PCT) should perform on a patient's elbow include two primary movements: flexion and extension. Flexion of the elbow joint consists of bending the arm to bring the forearm closer to the upper arm, effectively decreasing the angle between the two. In contrast, extension involves straightening the arm, which increases the angle between the forearm and the upper arm, returning the limb to its original position. These exercises are critical to maintain or improve the mobility of the elbow after injury or during rehabilitation.
Additional movements for the forearm that can be performed include pronation and supination. Pronation is the forearm motion that moves the palm of the hand from a palm forward to a palm backward position, and supination turns the hand back to the palm forward position, where the radius and ulna are parallel.