Define "range of motion" exercises.

Range of motion exercises are specifically designed to help maintain joint flexibility and mobility. They involve moving joints through their full potential movement and are crucial for preventing stiffness, improving circulation, and enhancing overall joint function. These exercises can be performed actively, where the individual moves the joint themselves, or passively, where an external force moves the joint.

This aspect of maintaining flexibility is especially important for individuals who may have limited mobility due to age, injury, or medical conditions. While other forms of exercise, such as strength training or exercises performed in a seated position, may serve different purposes, they do not specifically target the maintenance and enhancement of joint flexibility in the same way that range of motion exercises do. Heavy lifting, on the other hand, focuses on building muscle strength and mass rather than promoting flexibility or mobility.