motor function testing

Question 1

how to perform - assessing tone

Answer 1

Informed consent, contraindications, patient removes top
observe: any flaccidity/tightness in muscles, alignment
palpate: patient relaxed, cup muscle, feel if floppy/tense
slow passive movement: compare sides, feel for stiffness/inability to maintain trunk position during
fast: 3/4 reps max, feel for change in resistance

Question 2

myotomes

Answer 2

informed consent, contras, patient in sitting
decide muscle groups based on spinal nerve root, apply resistance to limb mid range, ‘match my resistance’, patient actively holds/moves, compare sides, document

Question 3

contraindications

Answer 3

MSK: fractures, recent surgery, inflamed tissues
CR: infection
CV: conditions - HD, hypertension
N: pain, neurological impairment, not co-operating

Question 4

how to know if normal

Answer 4

normal tone
low: floppy muscles
high spasticity/rigid: tense, resists quick movement

myotome function: can move through range

Question 5

purpose

Answer 5

tone - assess a muscle’s resistance to passive movement during resting state - compliance/stiffness of soft tissue, length, viscosity

myotome - a group of muscles innervated by the ventral root a single spinal nerve, know whether a muscle is innervated, testing spinal nerve function, localising lesions/injuries

detect if there’s neurological abnormalities, monitor disease/treatment progression, functional impairments

Question 6

structures

Answer 6

muscles by being observed, palpated, moved, resisted
motor neurones from basal ganglia > reticulospinal tract, more activity = higher tone
spinal roots

Question 7

principles

Answer 7

tone:
Slow passive movement
Compare sides
low resistance

myotome:
joint midway through range - consistency, mechanical adv
1 hand on joint, 1 below
Patient is relaxed, no other joints moved
Limb is held steady, resists for 5sec
compare sides