MANUAL MUSCLE TESTING
Muscle strength → ability to contractile tissue to produce tension & a resultant force according to
demands placed on that muscle
→ the greatest measurable force exerted by a muscle to overcome resistance during single
maximum effort
TYPES OF MUSCLE ACTIVITY
CONCENTRIC → shortening of muscle while it's working
Muscle bulges because it shortens
ECCENTRIC → lengthening of muscle as it works
e.g. bending your body backwards, back muscles contract but stomach muscles are
eccentrically stabilising body in that position
ISOMETRIC → no change in length
RANGES OF MUSCLE ACTIVITY
INNER RANGE → relatively shortened position
Fully knee extension is inner range for quads
MID-RANGE → mid-position (usually max strength)
OUTER RANGE → relatively lengthened position
Bum kick → outer range of quad (it is fully stretched)
INDICATIONS:
Why we measure muscle strength?
To assess (and record) weakness:
o After trauma
o In presence of disease
o After surgery
o In presence of pain
o After disuse
To monitor the success of our intervention
To guide the progression of rehabilitation
PRECATIONS
History of cardiac problems
Where fatigue may worsen a patient's condition
o Signs of fatigue include muscular spasm, muscle tremors, tiredness, slow response
Recent neurosurgery or surgery of abdomen, eye, intervertebral discs
Presence of pain can inhibit muscle contraction affecting the accuracy of results for muscle
strength tests
Avoid the Valsalva Manoevre → breath holding affects pressures in the blood vessels in
chest and abdominal cavity putting strain on the heart
Proceed with caution in cases of inflammation or acute inflammatory neuromuscular
disease
o e.g. Guillain-Barre (damages the nerves → person can't move/ become paralysed),
polymyositis(group of muscle diseases → causes inflammation of muscles &
associated tissues)
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
Severe cardiac or respiratory diseases or disorders with acute symptoms
Muscle strength → ability to contractile tissue to produce tension & a resultant force according to
demands placed on that muscle
→ the greatest measurable force exerted by a muscle to overcome resistance during single
maximum effort
TYPES OF MUSCLE ACTIVITY
CONCENTRIC → shortening of muscle while it's working
Muscle bulges because it shortens
ECCENTRIC → lengthening of muscle as it works
e.g. bending your body backwards, back muscles contract but stomach muscles are
eccentrically stabilising body in that position
ISOMETRIC → no change in length
RANGES OF MUSCLE ACTIVITY
INNER RANGE → relatively shortened position
Fully knee extension is inner range for quads
MID-RANGE → mid-position (usually max strength)
OUTER RANGE → relatively lengthened position
Bum kick → outer range of quad (it is fully stretched)
INDICATIONS:
Why we measure muscle strength?
To assess (and record) weakness:
o After trauma
o In presence of disease
o After surgery
o In presence of pain
o After disuse
To monitor the success of our intervention
To guide the progression of rehabilitation
PRECATIONS
History of cardiac problems
Where fatigue may worsen a patient's condition
o Signs of fatigue include muscular spasm, muscle tremors, tiredness, slow response
Recent neurosurgery or surgery of abdomen, eye, intervertebral discs
Presence of pain can inhibit muscle contraction affecting the accuracy of results for muscle
strength tests
Avoid the Valsalva Manoevre → breath holding affects pressures in the blood vessels in
chest and abdominal cavity putting strain on the heart
Proceed with caution in cases of inflammation or acute inflammatory neuromuscular
disease
o e.g. Guillain-Barre (damages the nerves → person can't move/ become paralysed),
polymyositis(group of muscle diseases → causes inflammation of muscles &
associated tissues)
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
Severe cardiac or respiratory diseases or disorders with acute symptoms
