Manual Muscle Testing Overview

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms and definitions relevant to Manual Muscle Testing as presented in lecture notes.

Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)

A procedure for evaluating the function and strength of individual muscles and muscle groups by assessing movement against gravity and resistance.

Muscular Strength

The maximal amount of tension or force that a muscle or muscle group can voluntarily exert during maximal effort.

Muscular Endurance

The ability of a muscle or muscle group to perform repeated contractions against resistance over a period of time.

Contraindication

A condition that serves as a reason to withhold certain treatments or procedures, such as muscle testing.

Aggravation

Worsening of a condition, which may result from particular movements or stressors applied during muscle evaluation.

Gravity Minimized Position

A test position that diminishes the effects of gravity on a specific muscle during evaluation.

Against Gravity (AG)

A position where the effects of gravity challenge the muscle or group during testing.

Full Range of Motion (ROM)

The complete extent of movement that a joint can achieve without restrictions.

Outer Range

The portion of muscle length from full stretch to halfway through the available range of motion.

Inner Range

The muscle length from halfway to fully shortened position.

Middle Range

The segment of the range that lies between the midpoints of the outer and inner ranges.

Grade 5 (Normal)

Full available ROM against gravity and maximum resistance with a hold at end of ROM.

Grade 4 (Good)

Full available ROM against gravity and moderate resistance.

Grade 3 (Fair)

Full available ROM against gravity.

Grade 2 (Poor)

Full available ROM with gravity eliminated.

Grade 1 (Trace)

No available ROM but palpable or observable flicker contraction.

Grade 0 (Zero)

No observable or palpable muscle contraction.

Validity of MMT

The extent to which MMT measures what it is intended to measure.

Reliability of MMT

The degree to which MMT results remain consistent when repeated by different examiners.

Stabilization

Fixing a muscle's origin point to minimize compensatory movements during testing.

Assessment Procedure

A systematic approach to evaluate a patient's muscle strength through demonstrated testing methods.

Substitution Movements

Unintended movements by other muscles that can occur when primary muscles are weak or paralyzed.

Palpation

The process of feeling muscles during assessment to ensure proper contraction.

Subject Positioning

Arranging the patient in a way that isolates the muscle group being tested for accurate evaluation.

Pain as a Contraindication

Testing muscle strength in the presence of pain that may lead to inaccurate results or further injury.

Muscle Testing Grades

A standardized classification of muscle strength based on observed performance during MMT.

Factors Affecting MMT Results

Variables like joint limitation, painful joints, and position that can influence testing outcomes.

Patient's Body Build

An anatomical consideration that may affect muscle strength testing and results.