A nurse is collecting data from a client about range-of-motion for various joints. Which of the following should the nurse identify as an example of a ball and socket joint?

A. "Maintain your head and neck erect when walking with crutches.": This is incorrect. The focus should be on posture and the use of crutches, not just the head and neck. Maintaining an erect posture is essential, but this option is too narrow and doesn’t provide full guidance on proper crutch use.

B. "Keep your elbows flexed at a 35° angle when using the crutches.": This is correct. The elbows should be slightly bent, approximately at a 30- to 35-degree angle, to ensure proper use of the crutches. This position prevents excessive strain on the shoulders and wrists while providing effective support.

C. "Support your body weight by leaning on the crutches.": This is incorrect. The crutches should not bear the entire weight of the body. Instead, the weight should be distributed through the arms and hands with the crutches supporting some of the load. Leaning on the crutches can lead to nerve damage or further injury.

D. “Wash the tips of your crutches daily.": This is incorrect. While it is important to keep crutches clean, washing the tips daily is unnecessary. It is more important to check the crutches for wear and tear and ensure the rubber tips are intact and provide proper traction.

A. Ankle is incorrect. The ankle is a hinge joint, which allows for movement in one plane (up and down), not the multidirectional movement characteristic of a ball and socket joint.

B. Shoulder is correct. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint. This type of joint allows for movement in multiple directions, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation, and circumduction.

C. Knee is incorrect. The knee is a hinge joint, allowing for flexion and extension but not the wide range of motion that a ball and socket joint offers.

D. Metacarpophalangeal is incorrect. The metacarpophalangeal joints (knuckles) are condyloid joints, which allow for movement in two planes but not the full rotational movement of a ball and socket joint.