Test Positioning for MMT

 

There are specific testing protocols set in place for health professionals to follow for consistency throughout practices and so patient medical records are conducted in a format that will be the same for everyone. Goniometers are a common tool used by health professionals to measure joint angles and ROM. Testing for these are important for determining muscle functionality. One of the first steps in using this tool is being able to identify palpable bony landmarks such as styloid processes of the radius and ulna, malleoli of the tibia and fibula, the acromion processes of the scapulae, and others. It is important to know these landmarks to position the goniometer accurately. Proper positioning is important to isolate the joint that’s being assessed, all the client’s full ROM, and prevent compensatory motion of adjacent joints.

Manual muscle testing is an assessment used to determine weak muscles and to collect data. This is important for Occupational Therapists to identify if a client has difficulty completing their daily schedule and to determine a baseline for treatment. Positioning for a manual muscle test called the break test includes having the muscle that’s being evaluated placed at an angle that is midway through its ROM. For example, the normal range for elbow flexion is 0 - 145˚, so the testing position would start at about 72.5˚. This is because the muscle’s cross bridges are not too close together or far apart causing unwanted active or passive insufficiency. This would prevent proper testing because the muscle cannot perform to its best ability. For clients who do not have the capabilities to complete the break test against gravity, the body part being tested should be placed in a gravity eliminated position. This means the client will perform the movement with that body part parallel to the ground, or horizontally to assess the functionality within their limitations.