Key Movement Patterns Flashcards
What is the patient positioning for hip extension?
- prone
- feet off the end of the table
What is the patient asked to do in hip extension?
Raise each leg straight toward the ceiling
What 4 faults are we looking for in hip extension?
What do they mean?
- deviation of lumbar spine or pelvis = glut max inhibition
- early hyper lordosis = glut max inhibition
- use of upper back muscles = those muscles are overactive / compensating
- bending of knee = tight / overactive hamstrings
What should we see in hip extension?
- Which muscles should activate?
- How far should the leg move?
- Gluts first
- Erectors / QLs later
- 20 to 25 degrees
What is the patient positioning for hip abduction?
- side lying
- bottom leg bent
What is the patient asked to do in hip abduction?
Lift straight, top leg up to ceiling
What 4 faults are we looking for in hip abduction?
What is a common cause for all 4?
What else could each of them mean?
Common fault = weak or inhibited glut med
- hip hiking (pulling pelvis cephalad) = overactive QL
- hip flexion = overactive TFL or psoas
- hip extension = overactive piriformis
- pelvic rotation = overactive TFL
- external rotation of thigh = overactive TFL
What should we see in hip abduction?
- Which muscles should activate?
- How far should the leg move?
- Glut Medius
- at least 45 degrees
What is the patient positioning for trunk flexion?
- Supine, neck neutral
- knees bent
- hands crossed over chest
What is the patient asked to do in trunk flexion?
Curl up until shoulder blades come off the table
What are 4 common faults for trunk curl up?
What is a common cause?
What else do they mean?
Common cause = weak or inhibited abdominal muscles
- Back straight / anterior pelvic = overactive psoas
- change in heel pressure against table (increase OR decrease) = overactive psoas
- chin protrusion = overactive SCM
- shaking = overactive adductors
What is the patient positioning for shoulder abduction?
- sitting or standing
- elbows bent at sides
What is the patient asked to do in shoulder abduction?
Abduct arm to 100 degrees while keeping elbows bent
What are 3 common faults for shoulder abduction?
What do they mean?
- elevation of shoulder or scapula early (first 60 degrees) = inhibited middle and lower trap OR overactive upper trap or levator scap
- winging of inferior angle = inhibited serratus anterior OR overactive pecs
If one at a time:
- contralateral flexion = weak shoulder abductors OR overactive QL
What is the patient positioning for neck flexion?
Supine with neck in neutral
What is the patient asked to do in neck flexion
Bring chin to chest
What are 3 common faults for neck flexion?
What is a common cause?
What do they mean?
Common cause = weak or inhibited deep neck flexors
Chin protrusion = overactive SCM, anterior scalene, and/or subocciptals
Chin deviation = unilaterally overactive SCM, anterior scalene, or subocciptials
Shaking = general weakness
When observing key movement patterns what are the 4 things to remember?
- never on an acute patient
- observe from 2 angles
- give minimal instruction
- expose the area if possible
