1402AHS - Muscle Length Testing

Hamstrings

Straight Leg Raise (SLR) with 80-90 degrees of hip flexion

Alternate Hamstrings Assessment

90 -90 Test with -20 degrees of knee extension

Quadriceps

Prone Knee Bend (PKB) with 120 degrees of knee flexion — or heel to buttock

Hip Flexors

Modified Thomas Test

Modified Thomas Test Findings — Normal Length

Thigh Parallel or hip in extension (i.e. thigh past parallel to plinth), knee in 90 degrees flexion, hip in neutral abd/adduction

Modified Thomas Test Findings — TFL Tightness

Hip Abducted

Modified Thomas Test Findings — Rectus Femoris tightness

knee in greater extended position

Modified Thomas Test Findings — Iliopsoas Tightness

Hip in flexion

TFL/ITB

Modified Obers test

Modified Obers Test Findings — Maximal Tightness

If leg cannot be passively adducted to horizontal

Modified Obers Test Findings — Moderate Tightness

Horizontal position in reached

Modified Obers Test Findings — Minimal Tightness

If leg falls below horizontal but does not completely reach plinth

Gastrocnemius

>10 degrees DF (ideally 20)

Soleus

• >10 degrees DF (ideally 20)

• Make sure that knee is slightly passively flexed at the start

Knee to Wall

• Standing

• 10-12 cm

Pectoralis Major (clavicular)

• supine

• shoulder in 90 degrees abduction and ER with wrist flexed

• Stabilise opposite shoulder and lower arm towards plinth

• record distance from lateral epicondyle to/or past plinth

Pectoralis Major (Sternal)

• Supine

• Place shoulder in 135 degrees of abduction and ER with elbow flexed

• Stablise opposite shoulder and lower arm toward plinth

• record distance from lateral epicondyle to/or past plinth

Latissimus Dorsi

• crook lying

• check for any loss of lumbar spine position

• record shoulder flexion

• one hand holds around elbow and while maintaining shoulder in ER - passively flex shoulder above head towards plinth

Biceps Brachii

• supine with test shoulder overlying edge of plinth

• keep elbow extended with forearm pronation

• lower arm/humerus

• record distance from lateral epicondyle or range of shoulder flexion

Triceps Brachii (method 1)

• sitting with elbow flexed

• maintain elbow flexion and passively flex the shoulder to the limit of range

• Record range of shoulder flexion

Triceps Brachii (method 2)

• sitting

• passively flex shoulder to end of range with elbow extended —> passively flex elbow to limit of range

Long Wrist Flexors (FDS, FDP, Flexor Digiti Minimi, Palmaris Longus)

• sitting on plinth or chair with arm on plinth and hand over edge

• keep elbow extended

• passively extend wrist while maintain fingers in full extension

• Measure wrist extension angle

Long Wrist Extensors (extensor Digitorum, Extensor Indicis, Extensor Digiti Minimi)

• sitting (plinth or chair)

• Keep elbow extended

• passively flex wrist while maintaining fingers in flexion (i.e. curled)

• Measure wrist flexion angle