A nurse is performing passive range of motion on a client who had a stroke. The nurse should identify that passive range of motion is performed to increase which of the following?

A. Passive range of motion (PROM) involves the nurse moving the client's joints through their full range without the client's active muscle contraction. This intervention is specifically designed to maintain or improve joint flexibility and prevent the development of permanent contractures. It ensures that the synovial fluid is distributed and the connective tissues remain elongated. B. Bone density is primarily maintained and increased through weight-bearing exercises and active resistance training, which stimulate osteoblastic activity. Passive movement does not provide the necessary mechanical stress on the skeletal system to affect mineral density. While PROM is beneficial for mobility, it is not an effective strategy for preventing osteoporosis or bone loss. C. Muscle strength requires active contraction against gravity or resistance to hypertrophy the muscle fibers and improve motor unit recruitment. Since the nurse is performing the movement for the client, the client's muscles are not being exercised. Consequently, passive range of motion cannot increase or even maintain muscle strength in a paralyzed or paretic limb. D. Muscle mass is preserved through active physical activity and nutritional support; passive movements do not prevent the disuse atrophy associated with a stroke. Without the metabolic demands of active contraction, the muscle fibers will naturally decrease in size over time. PROM focuses exclusively on the integrity of the joint capsule and surrounding ligaments rather than volume.