PRINCIPLES OF MANUAL
MUSCLE TESTING
MUTHURAMAN. J., MPT
PRINCIPLES OF MMT
Position
Stabilization
Demonstration
Application of Grades
Application of Resistance
Checking normal strength
Objectivity
Documentation
PATIENT POSITION
Patient is positioned Eliminated or Against gravity
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 the part or parts being tested by virtue of body
weight or with help provided by the examiner
STABILIZATION
Patient could stabilizes our self during performed Antigravity position.
The hand placement of the therapist is important.
HAND PLACEMENT:
I. PROXIMAL HAND - At Origin of muscle & proximal joint giving
stabilization.
II. 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.
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.
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 varies between the persons.
Use long lever to applied resistance whenever it possible.
CHECKING NORMAL STRENGTH
Therapist to check the strength of the muscle normal side first.
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.
INDICATION OF MMT
1) Lower Motor Neuron (LMN) Disease.
2) Some other Neurological (Neuromuscular) disease. Such as,
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular distrophy
Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis.
Guillian - barre syndrome (GBS), etc....
3) Some Musculoskeletal disorders.
