manual muscle test


manual muscle test

A technique for estimating the relative strength of specific muscles. See: tableSOURCE: Starkey, C, Brown, S, and Ryan, J: Examination of Orthopedic and Athletic Injuries, ed 3, FA Davis, Philadelphia, 2010.
VerbalNumericalClinical Finding
Normal5/5The patient can resist against maximal pressure; the examiner is unable to break the patient's resistance
Good4/5The patient can resist against moderate pressure
Fair3/5The patient can move the body part against gravity through the full range of motion
Poor2/5The patient can move the body part in a gravity-eliminated position through the full range of motion
Trace1/5The patient cannot produce movement, but a muscle contraction is palpable
Zero0/5No contraction is felt