Individual Muscle Testing

Scapular Elevation

• upper trapezius

• levator scapulae

• rhomboids

Scapular Depression

• lower trapezius

• pectoralis minior

Scapula Upward Rotation

• upper trapezius

• lower trapezius

• serratus anterior

Scapula Downward Rotation

• levator scapulae

• rhomboids

• pectoralis minor

Scapula Retraction (Adduction)

• Middle Trapezius

• rhomboids

• pectoralis minor (?)

• trapezius (?)

Scapula Protraction (Abduction)

• serratus anterior

• pectoralis minor

Anterior Tilt

• pectoralis minor

Upper Trapezius (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, have client elevate shoulder to ear

• stabilization: opposite shoulder

• palpate: superior and posterior aspect of the thorax above the scapula

• resistance: press shoulder down into depression

Middle Trapezius (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, shoulder at 90 hanging off table; have client lift arm out to the side with palm facing forward (thumb up)

• stabilization: opposite scapula

• palpate: lateral to origin (towards medial border)

• resistance: push arm down towards floor

Lower Trapezius (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, shoulder at 145 abduction, have client raise arm

• stabilization: opposite scapula

• palpate: muscle belly inferior and medial to insertion (near inferior angle)

• resistance: towards floor—scapular elevation(?)

Levator Scapulae (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, elevate, adduct, and downwardly rotate scapul (chicken wing)

• stabilization: shoulder adductors

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: scapula towards despression, abduction, and upward rotation

the rhomboids are tested with what other muscle?

levator scapulae

Rhomboids (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, elevate, adduct, and downwardly rotate scapula (chicken wing)

• stabilization: shoulder adductors

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: scapula towards depression, abduction, and upward rotation

Serratus Anterior (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, protract scapula (superman), 120 flexion vs 90

• stabilization: on trunk near inferior angle of scapula

• palpate: anterior lateral aspect of chest wall

• resistance: scapula towards retraction and downward rotation

Pectoralis Minor (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine have patient lift scapula off table (anteriorly tilts scapula)

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: in posterior direction, back to neutral scapular position

Shoulder Flexion

• anterior deltoid

• pec major

• coracobrachialis (assist)

• biceps (assist)

Shoulder Extension

• posterior deltoid

• latissimus dorsi

• teres major

• triceps

Shoulder Abduction

• anterior deltoid

• middle deltoid

• posterior deltoid

• supraspinatus

Shoulder Adduction

• latissimus dorsi

• teres major

• pec major

• coracobrachialis (assist)

Shoulder Horizontal Abduction

• posterior deltoid

• infraspinatus

• teres minor

Shoulder Horizontal Adduction

• anterior deltoid

• pec major

Shoulder Internal Rotation

• anterior deltoid

• latissimus dorsi

• teres major

• subscapularis

• pec major

Shoulder External Rotation

• posterior deltoid

• infraspinatus

• teres minor

Anterior Deltoid (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, abduct and slightly flex and externally rotate shoulder (low volleyball set)

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: 2” distal to the lateral clavicle; anterior shoulder

• resistance: towards adduction and extension back to side of trunk

Middle Deltoid (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, abduct shoulder to 90

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: 2” distal to the acromion process on the lateral aspect of the humerus

• resistance: towards adduction

Posterior Deltoid (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, abduct and slightly extend the shoulder and internally rotate the shoulder

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: posterior surface of the shoulder joint

• resistance: towards adduction and flexion back to side of trunk

Supraspinatus (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, abduct shoulder to 90

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: above the spine of scapula during initial abduction and during resistance

• resistance: towards adduction

Latissimus Dorsi (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone; extend shoulder (swimming stroke)

• stabilize: scapula

• palpate: during resistance, on the side of the thorax near the axilla

• resistance: toward flexion, abduction, and external rotation of humerus

Teres Major (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, adduct, internally rotate and extend arm (handcuff)

• stabilize: scapula

• palpate: on the lateral border of the scapula below the axilla

• resistance: down towards flexion and abduction of humerus

Infraspinatus (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, externally rotate shoulder

• stabilize: elbow or scapula

• palpate: below spine of scapula

• resistance: towards internal rotation

what muscle is tested with the teres minor?

infraspinatus

Teres Minor (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, externally rotate shoulder

• stabilize: scapula

• palpate: axillary border of scapula or posterior shoulder; in axilla

• resistance: towards internal rotation

Subscapularis (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: prone, shoulder internal rotation

• stabilize: scapula

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: towards external rotation

Subscapularis is the same as what muscle group testing?

internal rotation

Upper (Clavicular Portion) Pectoralis Major (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine with shoulder abducted to 90; horizontally adduct shoulder towards opposite shoulder

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: just below clavicle

• resistance: towards horizontal abduction

The upper pectoralis major (clavicular portion) is tested the same as what muscle group?

horizontal abduction

Lower (Sternal Portion) Pectoralis Major (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine with shoulder abducted to 120, have client horizontally adduct shoulder towards opposite hip

• stabilize: opposite shoulder

• palpate: armpit (or below upper portion)

• resistance: towards horizontal abduction

Coracobrachialis

• position: sitting with shoulder adducted and elbow flexed and supinated, then flex and horizontally adduct arm (rasputen)

• stabilze: opposite shoulder

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: towards extension and abduction

Elbow Flexion

• biceps

• brachialis

• brachioradialis

Elbow Extension

• Triceps

Biceps (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, arm extended and forearm supinated

• stabilze: proximal lateral humerus

• palpate: mid-anterior humerus or elbow crease

• resistance: toward extension

Brachialis (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting; forearm pronated or supinated

• stabilize: shoulder

• palpate: medial to biceps tendon or on either side

• resistance: towards extension

brachioradialis (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting, forearm in midposition

• stabilize: upper humerus

• palpate: lateral surface upper/proximal radius

• resistance: towards extension

Triceps (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: sitting or supine, shoulder flexed accordingly

• stabilize: proximal humerus, trunk

• palpate: posterior humerus

• resistance: towards flexion

supination

• supinator

• biceps

pronation

• pronator teres

• pronator quadratus

supinator (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine, shoulder flexed to 90, forearm pronated, flex elbow to 150, then supinate the forearm

• stabilize: arm

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: rotate forearm into pronation

Pronator Teres (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine, elbow flexed to 60, start in supination and then pronate

• stabilize: arm proximal to elbow

• palpate: medial/anterior aspect of forearm slightly below the elbow

• resistance: rotate into supination

Pronator Quadratus (position, stabilization, palpate, resistance)

• position: supine, start in supination, elbow flexed to 150, ask them to pronate; upper arm can rest on mat table

• stabilize: arm proximal to elbow

• palpate: too deep

• resistance: rotate forearm into supination