MANUAL MUSCLE TESTING
(MMT)
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
MMT is the most vital part of motor assessment Performa in
medical examination.
MMT is a procedure for the evaluation of strength of individual
muscle or muscles group, based upon the effective performance of
a movement in relation to the forces of gravity or manual
resistance through the available ROM.
i.e. how efficiently a muscle is working or muscles strength /
power assessment using manual (hand) techniques.
BASIC COMPONENTS OF MOTOR
EXAMINATION
1. Nutrition or bulk of muscle
2. Tone
3. Reflexes
4. Range of Motion or TCD’s assessment
5. Manual muscle testing (MMT)
6. Functional assessment
** Importance of the sequence
WHY MMT IS PERFORMED?
To get some answers such as :-
Is a particular muscle is normal?
Is it weak ? (how much weak)
Is it strong enough? (how much strong)
Is it weak on both the sides (bilateral symmetrical) ?
Is it weak only on one side (unilateral) ?
Is proximal muscles are weaker than distal one ?
Is distal muscles are weaker than the proximal one ?
Is there any particular pattern of muscle weakness ?
CLINICAL REASONING OF
PERFORMING MMT
To get an over view of muscle performance status so that the
cause of the problem can be understood.
So that we can plan our treatment goals i.e. to strengthen
certain weak muscles by means of strengthening exercises.
Monitoring of certain conditions i.e. whether it is getting better
or getting worst with time (Documentation and follow-up)
Correlating muscle picture with its level of innervations
(Myotomes)
EXAMPLE - LBA WITH
NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT
MYOTOME MUSCLES
L1 NONE
L2 HIP FLEXOR
L3 KNEE EXTENSOR
L4 DORSIFLEXOR
L5 GREAT TOE EXTENSION
S1 PLANTER FLEXORS
GRADES OF MMT
Numerical Objectivity for documentation
Existing grading systems are :-
1. MRC SCALE
2. OXFORD SCALE
3. KENDALL SCALE
4. AND SEVERAL OTHER
MRC SCALE EXPLANATION
0 No visible or palpable contraction.
1 Visible or palpable contraction.
2 Full ROM gravity eliminated.
3 Full ROM against gravity.
Full ROM against gravity, moderate
4 resistance.
Full ROM against gravity, maximum
5
resistance.
Ref. muscle testing and function by kendall
OXFORD
EXPLANATION
SCALE
0 No contraction is present.
1 There is flicker contraction
Full ROM with gravity counter balance.
2
*(Eliminated)
3 Full ROM against gravity.
Full ROM against gravity + added
4
resistance.
5 Muscle function normally.
ref: practical exercise Margaret Holleis(1)
KENDALL
EXPLANATION
SCALE
NONE No visible or palpable contraction.
TRACE Visible or palpable contraction.
POOR Full ROM gravity eliminated.
FAIR Full ROM against gravity.
Full ROM against gravity, moderate
GOOD resistance.
Full ROM against gravity, maximum
NORMAL
resistance.
Ref. muscle testing and function by kendall
PLUS (+) AND MINUS (-) GRADES
(3) - Full range of motion against
gravity
(3+) - Full range of motion against
gravity slight resistance
(3-) - Movement >half but less than
full range of motion against
gravity
BASIC RULES
Patient position
Joint position
Check the available passive range of the joint.
Give accurate, audible commands and instruction regarding
movement.
Demonstrate the desired movement.
Check the strength of normal side first (in c/o unilateral).
Do not change patient position repeatedly.
Always start with Grade 3 i.e. against gravity movement.
CONT..
Isolation of muscle to be tested.
Joint position.
1. Place the part in anti-gravity position. (Grade 3)
2. Horizontal (gravity eliminated) for weak muscle. (Grade 2)
Apply gradual pressure opposite to the muscle segment being
tested. (Grade 4 and 5)
Use long Lever to apply resistance whenever possible. **
HAND PLACEMENT
Proximal Hand:- At origin of muscle & proximal joint
giving stabilization.
Distal Hand:- distally offering resistance or assistance
depending upon performance.
APPLICATION OF RESISTANCE
Resistance is applied slowly and gradually.
Increasing or decreasing manual resistance .
Increasing or decreasing the length of weight arm.
Example - with the patient in prone position a known
resistance given at the level of knee joint is more easily
overcome by the hip extensors than if it is applied at the foot.
APPLICATION OF LEVERAGE IN
MMT
PRECAUTIONS
Consider contraindications
Do not Harm (Be gentle)
Respect pain
Know the available ROM
Follow the principals of procedure
Take care of patients comfort
Record accurately (Documentation)
LIMITATIONS OF MMT
UMN Lesions :- Spastic muscle have poor control from higher
centers thus its better to go for Voluntary control assessment
rather than MMT.
Restricted ROM due to TCD’s can give faulty interpretation
about MMT, thus in case always mention about the MMT within
available range along with grade.
Presence of pain and swelling:- Pain and swelling increases the
intra articular tension causing irritation of joint and can affect the
MMT result, Thus in case always mention about presence of Pain
along with grade.
Type of contraction - MMT gives idea about Quality of
concentric contraction only. (Not eccentric which is more
functional)
Understanding of command (Pediatric Age group <5
years / IQ/ higher functions)
Strength Vs Endurance??
MMT gives knowledge about only the strength and not
the endurance.
Subjectivity (Patient) Hoovers Sign
OBJECTIVITY AND
RELIABILITY OF MMT
OBJECTIVITY:- Examiners ability to palpate and observe the
tendon or muscle response in very weak muscle.
RELIABILITY :- reliability of MMT in clinical settings has been
low, it is found that percentage of therapist obtaining the same
muscle grade, only ranged from 50-60%
INTERRATER AND INTRARATER RELIABILITY
Despite of the above said lacunas MMT is still the most effective
clinical method for assessing muscle function.
MMT
CHART
ALTERNATE TECHNIQUES OF ASSESSING
MUSCLE STRENGTH APART FROM
CONVENTIONAL MMT
1. Resisted isometric test
2. Break test
3. Make test
4. Functional assessment
5. Myometer
6. Dynamometer
RESISTED ISOMETRIC TESTING
Useful way of assessing muscle function when the
movement is contraindicated or causes pain.
i.e. Resistance to muscle while performing Isometric
contraction.
The location of pain and painful movements suggests
whether a lesion is contractile tissue(muscle or tendon)
or inert/ non-contractile tissue (capsule) is involved.
TESTING
Patient’s joint position should be in middle ROM as
this position is resting position of the joint.
Proximal part is stabilize to minimize substitution.
The patient is then asked to hold the position
against resistance.
RESULT INTERPRETATION
Findings Possible pathology
Strong and painless contraction No neurological deficit
Strong and painful contraction Minor lesion of tested muscle or
tendon
Weak and painless contraction Disorder of nervous system,
complete rupture of muscle or
tendon or disuse atrophy
Weak and painful contraction Fracture, neoplasm, partial rupture
of muscle or tendon, inflammation
inhibiting contaction.
BREAK TEST
Resistance applied at the end of tested range is termed as break
test.
Resistance applied throughout the test is called make test.
Patient is instructed to complete the test movement and then hold
the segment against resistance.
The isometric hold (break test) shows the muscle to have a higher
grade then the make test.
For one joint muscle resistance is applied at end of ROM and for
two joint muscle it is applied at mid range.
INDICATION OF BREAK TEST
When movement is contraindicated
When there is pain in movement
When we have to assess the quality of strength and not
the quantity.??
FUNCTIONAL TEST
Correlating the muscle strength with its functions Such as
Standing/ walking on toes
Standing/ walking on heels
Walking on medial or lateral border of foot
One leg standing
Squatting and up squatting
Sit to stand
Intrinsic plus hand
Backward / forward/ lateral trunk bending / hand to knee..
Gower’s Sign
GOWER’S SIGN
MYOMETER
Myometer is used to measure the
strength of a particular muscle contraction.
DYNAMOMETER
Dynamometers are spring loaded device.
The best tool for accurately evaluating muscle strength and
objective way to document muscle weakness.
As force is applied to the dynamometer the spring is compressed
and moves a needle to indicate the force output from the muscles.
Types of Dynamometer
GRASP or HAND
DYNAMOMETER
PINCH DYNAMOMETER
SHOULDER PULLING DYNAMOMETER
.
LOW BACK AND LEG DYNAMOMETER
ADVANTAGES
1. Easy to use
2. More objective
3. Lesser chances of discrepancy in result
4. Visual Feed back
DISADVANTAGE
1. Availability
2. Cost
3. No Universal equipments available
4. Group of muscle can be assessed but not individual muscle.
(Example Grip strength)
MMT CLINICAL VARIATION
Individual muscle MMT – ex. tendon transfer.
Gross MMT – ex Major muscles only as in case of Amputation.
Myotomal MMT – ex Neck or back pain with neurological
deficit/ SCI.
