Manual Muscle Testing

Dr. Steph manual muscle testing diver Jennifer Abel, 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist

Manual muscle testing is a procedure for the evaluation of the function and strength of individual muscles and muscle groups based on the effective performance of a movement in relation to the forces of gravity and manual resistance.

Muscle testing is indicated in any patient with suspected or actual impaired muscle performance, including strength, power, or endurance. Identification of specific impaired muscles or muscle groups provides information for proper treatment.

A manual muscle test is conducted by having the patient resist using the target muscle or muscle group while Dr. Steph applies a force. A smooth response is sometimes referred to as a "strong muscle" and a response that was not appropriate is sometimes called a "weak response". This is not a raw test of strength, but rather a subjective evaluation of tension in the muscle and smoothness of response. A weak muscle test is equated to dysfunction and chemical or structural imbalance, indicative of suboptimal functioning.

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