Muscle Performance (MMT)

SPINE AND TRUNK:

-

Anterior Neck Flexors:

o Patient supine/ if abdominals weak stabilize the thorax
o Pt. flex chin to chest PT force against forehead (posterior and
curvilinear)

Deep neck flexors

o Pt. tuck chin to chest/ raise head off table
o PT counts amount of time the pt. can hold (30-40 sec. ideal)
o Look for chin coming up ---- test of endurance
Anterolateral neck flexors (SCM and scalenes)
o Pt. supine with elbows bend and hands beside head
Face turned away from side being tested
o PT force against temporal region of head in oblique ad posterior
direction

Posterolateral neck flexors (semispinalis capitis and cervicis/ splenius capitis

and cervicis)
o Pt.: prone with elbows bend and hands overhead resting on table
Face turned toward side being tested
o PT: force against posterolateral aspect of head in an anterolateral
direction
If cant put hands above head put on stomach

Upper Trap
o Pt: sitting/ shoulder slightly elevated/ head side bent to side being
tested
o PT provides force with one hand inferior on shoulder and medially
against side of head
Upper Abdominals
o Pt. supine with legs extended and back flat
o Test:
1. Trunk Curl Phase:
2. Hip flex. Phase:
o Resistance against gravity
o PT doesnt hold feet until hip flexion phase (after pt. has demonstrated
ability to curl up)
Lower Abs:
o Pt. supine with arms crossed over chest
o PT assist pt. in raising legs (cue to flatten back on table)
o Patient lowers legs to the table while PT looks for lordosis/ extension
Back extensors (Erector Spinae)
o Patient prone/ hands clasped behind butt or head
o PT stabilizes legs and instructs pt. to extend against gravity
o If there appear to be weakness hip flexors/extensors need to also be
assessed

Quadratus Lumborum
o Pt. prone with legs in slight Ext. and ABD
o PT asks pt. to hike hip and provides traction force to LE opposite to line
of pull of the QL

Lateral Trunk Flexors

o Pt: Side lying with head/ upper trunk/ pelvis in a straight line
Top arm extended and underarm across chest
o PT stabilizes patients legs and ask pt. to raise trunk directly up (no rot)
against gravity

Clinical Test: Side plank at least 30 seconds

Oblique Trunk Flexors

o Patient is supine, PT puts pt. in the position of trunk flexion and
rotation
o Gravity provides resistance while pt. holds position
o Grading the position:
5) Normal: pt. can hold test position with hands behind head
4) Good: pt. can hold test position with arms folded across chest
3+) Fair: pt. can hold test position with arms extended
3) pt. can hold trunk in enough flexion and rotation to raise both scaps
from table

Clinical Test: have pt. supine and see if they can rotate up toward
hands (twist sit up)