when joint surfaces are congruent or have maximum contact with each other and tightly compressed and are difficult to distract

the ligaments and capsule holding the joint together are taut

usually at one extreme of ROM

Open pack position

or

Loose pack position

or

Resting position

there is minimal congruency between the articular surfaces

parts of the capsule and supporting ligaments are lax

further passive separation or the joint surfaces can occur in this position

Joint play movements

or

Accessory motions

passive movements between joint surfaces done by passively applying external force

not under voluntary control

includes motions such as glide, spin and roll 

can be demonstrated in open pack positions

component movements

motions that accompany active motion but are not under voluntary control

eg - the shoulder girdle must rotate upward for the shoulder joint to flex

eg - the femur rotates on the tibia during the last few degrees of knee extension.  

eg - close packed

Facet (spine)

Close packed                      

Extension                           

Open packed

Midway between flex & ext

close packed

clenched teeth             

open packed

mouth slightly open (freeway space

open packed

abduction and lateral rotation

close packed

55^o abduction, 30^o horizontal adduction

open packed

arm abducted to 30^o

close packed

arm resting by side in normal physiological position

close packed

extension

open packed

70^o flexion, 10^o supination

open packed

elbow flexed 90^o, forearm supinated 5^o

close packed

full extension and supination

open packed

5^o degrees supination

close packed

70^o flexion, 35⁰ supination

close packed

extension with ulnar deviation

open packed

nuetral with slight ulnar deviation

open packed

N/A

close packed

midway between abduction/adduction and flexion/extension

close packed

full flexion

open packed

slight flexion

open packed

full extension

close packed

slight flexion

close packed

full opposition

open packed

slight flexion

close packed

full extension and medial rotation

open packed

30^o flexion, 30^o abduction and slight lateral rotation

close packed

full extentsion and lateral rotation of tibia

open packed

25^o flexion

close packed

maximum dorsiflexion

open packed

10^o plantar flexion, midway between maximum inversion and eversion 

close packed

full extension

open packed

neutral

close packed

full extension

open packed

slight flexion