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MUSCLE GRADING
MANUAL MUSCLE TESTING
GOKULAKRISHNAN.J .,MPT(Sports Medicine)
Assisstant Professor
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• At the end of the session students will be
able to:
– Define manual muscle testing
– Identify Indication & contraindications
– Understand the principle to grading
– Demonstrate the skill to grade
manual muscle testing lecture notes by Dr.gokulakrishnan
INTRODUCTION
Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)
is a method diagnostic evaluation
used by physical therapists,
chiropractors, physiological
researchers and others concerned
with establishing effective treatment
and tracking progress throughout a
specific regimen.
• MMT is the most commonly used method
for documenting impairments in muscle
strength.
HISTORY
• Manual muscle testing was developed in
response to the need to assess muscle
strength losses during the polio outbreak
in early part of the 20th century.
• The development of this original method is
credited to Wilhelmine Wright and Robert
W. Lovett, MD.
• The Modern understanding of Muscle
Testing has been built on scientific work
going back to 1915. Robert M. Lovett,
M.D. developed early muscular testing in
an effort to better understand muscle
weakness in people suffering from Polio
• Frank Chapman, in 1920, created a map
of neurolymphatic reflex points on which
Applied Kinesiology based part of its
diagnostic process.
• Then, in the 1949 book entitled, “Muscles,
Testing and Function,” spouses Henry and
Florence Kendall described various
muscle tests to assess each muscle group
(Kendall & Kendall, 1949).
• Finally, in 1964, Chiropractor George
Goodheart published his Applied
Kinesiology Research Manual (Goodheart,
2007). Goodheart demonstrated how a
tester could apply the Kendall’s muscular
tests to locations on Chapman’s
neurolymphatic map to indicate if a certain
organ was stressed (Goodheart, 2007).
DEFINITION
• MMT Is a procedure for the evaluation of
the function and strength of individual
muscles and muscles group based on
effective performance of a movement in
relation to the forces of gravity and manual
resistance through the availble ROM.
According to Walther (1988) state
• Presently the best 'instrument' to perform
manual muscle testing is a well-trained
examiner, using his perception of time and force
with knowledge of anatomy and physiology of
muscle testing."
• Regardless of the methods or equipment one
uses to standardize MMT in a clinical or
research setting, it is most important that the test
protocol be highly reproducible by the original
examiner and by others.
According to Kendall et al (1993) state
"As tools, our hands are the most sensitive,
fine tuned instruments available. One hand
of the examiner positions and stabilizes the
part adjacent to the tested part. The other
hand determines the pain-free range of
motion and guides the tested part into
precise test position, giving the appropriate
amount of pressure to determine the
strength.
• All the while this instrument we call the hand is
hooked up to the most marvelous computer ever
created. It is the examiner's very own personal
computer and it can store valuable and useful
information of the basis of which judgments
about evaluation and treatment can be made.
Such information contains objective data that is
obtained without sacrificing the art and science
of manual muscle testing to the demand for
objectivity."
INDICATIONS
Lower motor neuron diseases
Post polio syndrome
 Polymyopathy
 Radiculopathy
 Spinal muscular atrophy
Amyotropic lateral Sclerosis.
 Myasthenia gravis.
 Guillain barre syndrome.
 Multiple sclerosis.
 Muscular dystrophy.
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
 Arthritis
 Bursitis
 Tendinitis
 Strain
 Sprain
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Cerebral palsy
Cardio vascular disease/ brain injury
Dislocated/unhealed fracture
Myositis ossifications
Parkinson’s disease
Pain
Inflammation / ( inflammatory disease in
muscle and or joints )
 Severe cardiac & respiratory disease
 Subluxation joint
 Hemophilia
 Osteoporosis
PRECAUTION
Considered contraindications
Do not harm ( be gentle )
Respect pain
 Examiner know the available ROM
Follow the principles of procedure
Take care of patient comfort
Record accurately
 Extra care taken to giving resisted
exercise
Abdomen surgery or hernia
 Newly united fracture
Bony ankylosis
Hematoma
If patients take muscle relaxers and or
pain medications
Prolonged immobilization
PRINCIPLE
Position
❖ Stabilization
❖ Demonstration
Checking normal strength
Application of resistance
 Application of grades
❖ Objectivity
❖ Documentation
POSITION
• PATIENT POSITION :
 Patient is positioned eliminated or against
gravity. (patient depend upon testing on
muscle or muscles group) .
Do not change patient position repeatedly
the patient should be as free as possible
from discomfort or pain for the duration of
each test.
• It may be necessary to allow some
patients to move or be positioned
differently between tests.
• Patient position should be carefully
organized so that position changes in
a test sequence are minimized.
• The patient’s position must permit
adequate stabilization of the part or parts
being tested by virture of body weight or
with help provided by the examiner.
JOINT POSITION
The joint position is also changed depend
upon their performance. Distal part of the
joint is moved.
 Place the joint in antigravity position
grade 3 .
 Place the joint in horizontal position grade
4 .
STABILIZATION
• Patient could stabilizes our self during
performed antigravity position. The hand
placement of the therapist is important.
• HAND PLACEMENT
• PROXIMAL HAND – At origin of muscle &
proximal joint giving stabilization.
• DISTAL HAND – distally offering
resistance or assistance depend upon
performance.
DEMONSTRATION
 Demonstrate the desired movement
therapist demonstrate the application of
movement or performance to the patient.
CHECKING NORMAL STRENGTH
• Therapist to check the strength of the
muscle normal side first.
APPLICATIONS OF RESISTANCE
Resistance is applied slowly & gradually .
increasing or decreasing manual
resistance. Increasing length of weight
arm.
 Apply presence opposite to the line of pull
( GRADE 4,5) apply force distally. It
various between the persons.
 Use long lever to applied resistance
whenever it possible.
APPLICATIONS OF GRADES
• Always start with GRADE 3 ( if you start to
examine the muscle power, first you
should test the grade 3 ) isolation of
muscle could be tested.
OBJECTIVITY
Therapist ability to palpate and observe
the tendon or muscle response in very
weak muscles.
DOCUMENTATION
• Examiners complete testing
documentation or record first. This will
help for next step of treatment
applications. And help for checking
improvement of treatment.
TYPES OF MUSCLE TESTING
Make or break test
 Active resistance test
MAKE OR BREAK TEST
• Resistance applied at the end of tested
range is termed as break test.
• Resistance applied throughout the test is
called make test.
• Patient is instructed to complete the test
movement and then hold the segment
against resistance
The isometric hold ( break test ) shows the
muscle to have a higher grade muscle
resistance is applied at end of ROM .
 For two joint muscle it is applied at mid
range.
ACTIVE RESISTANCE TEST
It is a alternative to the break test . it is the
application of resistance against an
actively contracting muscles or group
muscles.
During the motion, the examiner gradually
increase the amount of resistance untill it
reaches the maximum level .
GRADING SYSTEM
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Plus & Minus grade
Daniels & Worthingham
Kendall & Kendal
MEDICAL RESEARCH
COUNCIL (MRC) GRADING
PLUS & MINUS GRADE
DANIELS & WORTHINGHAM
manual muscle testing lecture notes by Dr.gokulakrishnan
KENDALL & KENDAL
DOCUMANTATION SHEET
REFFERENCES
• Daniels and Worthingham's Muscle
Testing: Techniques of Manual
Examination, 8th edition
• Muscles: Testing and Function with
Posture and Pain Book by Florence
Peterson Kendall
• Muscle Testing: A Concise Manual Book
by Earle Abrahamson
THANK YOU…..

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manual muscle testing lecture notes by Dr.gokulakrishnan

  • 1. MUSCLE GRADING MANUAL MUSCLE TESTING GOKULAKRISHNAN.J .,MPT(Sports Medicine) Assisstant Professor
  • 2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES • At the end of the session students will be able to: – Define manual muscle testing – Identify Indication & contraindications – Understand the principle to grading – Demonstrate the skill to grade
  • 4. INTRODUCTION Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) is a method diagnostic evaluation used by physical therapists, chiropractors, physiological researchers and others concerned with establishing effective treatment and tracking progress throughout a specific regimen.
  • 5. • MMT is the most commonly used method for documenting impairments in muscle strength.
  • 6. HISTORY • Manual muscle testing was developed in response to the need to assess muscle strength losses during the polio outbreak in early part of the 20th century. • The development of this original method is credited to Wilhelmine Wright and Robert W. Lovett, MD.
  • 7. • The Modern understanding of Muscle Testing has been built on scientific work going back to 1915. Robert M. Lovett, M.D. developed early muscular testing in an effort to better understand muscle weakness in people suffering from Polio
  • 8. • Frank Chapman, in 1920, created a map of neurolymphatic reflex points on which Applied Kinesiology based part of its diagnostic process. • Then, in the 1949 book entitled, “Muscles, Testing and Function,” spouses Henry and Florence Kendall described various muscle tests to assess each muscle group (Kendall & Kendall, 1949).
  • 9. • Finally, in 1964, Chiropractor George Goodheart published his Applied Kinesiology Research Manual (Goodheart, 2007). Goodheart demonstrated how a tester could apply the Kendall’s muscular tests to locations on Chapman’s neurolymphatic map to indicate if a certain organ was stressed (Goodheart, 2007).
  • 10. DEFINITION • MMT Is a procedure for the evaluation of the function and strength of individual muscles and muscles group based on effective performance of a movement in relation to the forces of gravity and manual resistance through the availble ROM.
  • 11. According to Walther (1988) state • Presently the best 'instrument' to perform manual muscle testing is a well-trained examiner, using his perception of time and force with knowledge of anatomy and physiology of muscle testing." • Regardless of the methods or equipment one uses to standardize MMT in a clinical or research setting, it is most important that the test protocol be highly reproducible by the original examiner and by others.
  • 12. According to Kendall et al (1993) state "As tools, our hands are the most sensitive, fine tuned instruments available. One hand of the examiner positions and stabilizes the part adjacent to the tested part. The other hand determines the pain-free range of motion and guides the tested part into precise test position, giving the appropriate amount of pressure to determine the strength.
  • 13. • All the while this instrument we call the hand is hooked up to the most marvelous computer ever created. It is the examiner's very own personal computer and it can store valuable and useful information of the basis of which judgments about evaluation and treatment can be made. Such information contains objective data that is obtained without sacrificing the art and science of manual muscle testing to the demand for objectivity."
  • 14. INDICATIONS Lower motor neuron diseases Post polio syndrome  Polymyopathy  Radiculopathy  Spinal muscular atrophy
  • 15. Amyotropic lateral Sclerosis.  Myasthenia gravis.  Guillain barre syndrome.  Multiple sclerosis.  Muscular dystrophy.
  • 16. MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS  Arthritis  Bursitis  Tendinitis  Strain  Sprain
  • 17. CONTRAINDICATIONS Cerebral palsy Cardio vascular disease/ brain injury Dislocated/unhealed fracture Myositis ossifications Parkinson’s disease Pain
  • 18. Inflammation / ( inflammatory disease in muscle and or joints )  Severe cardiac & respiratory disease  Subluxation joint  Hemophilia  Osteoporosis
  • 19. PRECAUTION Considered contraindications Do not harm ( be gentle ) Respect pain  Examiner know the available ROM Follow the principles of procedure
  • 20. Take care of patient comfort Record accurately  Extra care taken to giving resisted exercise Abdomen surgery or hernia  Newly united fracture
  • 21. Bony ankylosis Hematoma If patients take muscle relaxers and or pain medications Prolonged immobilization
  • 23. Application of resistance  Application of grades ❖ Objectivity ❖ Documentation
  • 24. POSITION • PATIENT POSITION :  Patient is positioned eliminated or against gravity. (patient depend upon testing on muscle or muscles group) . Do not change patient position repeatedly the patient should be as free as possible from discomfort or pain for the duration of each test.
  • 25. • It may be necessary to allow some patients to move or be positioned differently between tests. • Patient position should be carefully organized so that position changes in a test sequence are minimized.
  • 26. • The patient’s position must permit adequate stabilization of the part or parts being tested by virture of body weight or with help provided by the examiner.
  • 27. JOINT POSITION The joint position is also changed depend upon their performance. Distal part of the joint is moved.  Place the joint in antigravity position grade 3 .  Place the joint in horizontal position grade 4 .
  • 28. STABILIZATION • Patient could stabilizes our self during performed antigravity position. The hand placement of the therapist is important.
  • 29. • HAND PLACEMENT • PROXIMAL HAND – At origin of muscle & proximal joint giving stabilization. • DISTAL HAND – distally offering resistance or assistance depend upon performance.
  • 30. DEMONSTRATION  Demonstrate the desired movement therapist demonstrate the application of movement or performance to the patient.
  • 31. CHECKING NORMAL STRENGTH • Therapist to check the strength of the muscle normal side first.
  • 32. APPLICATIONS OF RESISTANCE Resistance is applied slowly & gradually . increasing or decreasing manual resistance. Increasing length of weight arm.  Apply presence opposite to the line of pull ( GRADE 4,5) apply force distally. It various between the persons.  Use long lever to applied resistance whenever it possible.
  • 33. APPLICATIONS OF GRADES • Always start with GRADE 3 ( if you start to examine the muscle power, first you should test the grade 3 ) isolation of muscle could be tested.
  • 34. OBJECTIVITY Therapist ability to palpate and observe the tendon or muscle response in very weak muscles.
  • 35. DOCUMENTATION • Examiners complete testing documentation or record first. This will help for next step of treatment applications. And help for checking improvement of treatment.
  • 36. TYPES OF MUSCLE TESTING Make or break test  Active resistance test
  • 37. MAKE OR BREAK TEST • Resistance applied at the end of tested range is termed as break test. • Resistance applied throughout the test is called make test. • Patient is instructed to complete the test movement and then hold the segment against resistance
  • 38. The isometric hold ( break test ) shows the muscle to have a higher grade muscle resistance is applied at end of ROM .  For two joint muscle it is applied at mid range.
  • 39. ACTIVE RESISTANCE TEST It is a alternative to the break test . it is the application of resistance against an actively contracting muscles or group muscles. During the motion, the examiner gradually increase the amount of resistance untill it reaches the maximum level .
  • 40. GRADING SYSTEM Medical Research Council (MRC) Plus & Minus grade Daniels & Worthingham Kendall & Kendal
  • 42. PLUS & MINUS GRADE
  • 47. REFFERENCES • Daniels and Worthingham's Muscle Testing: Techniques of Manual Examination, 8th edition • Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain Book by Florence Peterson Kendall • Muscle Testing: A Concise Manual Book by Earle Abrahamson