Muscle length testing

Question 1

Latissimus dorsi
-position:
-action
-tape measure:

Answer 1

-position: supine, arm at side, elbow extended lumbar spine flat
-action: flex shoulder through full ROM keeping arm close to head
- elbow remains extended and lumbar spine remains flat
-tape measure: distance between lateral epicycle of humerus and support surface

Question 2

Pectoralis major (general):
-position:
-action
-tape measure:

Answer 2

-position: supine with hands clasped behind head: cervical spine should not flex more than necessary to place hands behind head

-action: elbows move toward support surface (no cervical spine flexion, lumbar spine remains flat

-tape measure: distance between olecranon process and support surface

Question 3

Sternal head (pectoralis major)
-position:
-action
-tape measure:

Answer 3

-position: Supine, shoulder laterally rotated, abducted 135º, elbow extended, forearm supinated, lumbar spine flat

-action: should moves into maximal horizontal abduction
-tape measure: distance between lateral epicondyle and support surface

Question 4

Clavicular head (pectoralis major):
-position:
-action
-tape measure:

Answer 4

-position: supine, shoulder laterally and abducted 90º, elbow extended, forearm supinated, lumbar spine flat

-action: move toward maximal horizontal abduction

-tape measure: distance between lateral epicondyle and support surface

Question 5

Pectoralis minor
-position:
-action
-tape measure:

Answer 5

-position: Supine, ams at side, shoulders laterally rotated, palms up, lumbar spine flat

-action: posterior shoulder moves toward support surface

-tape measure: distance between posterior border of acromion to support surface

Question 6

Triceps:
-position:
-action
- measure:

Answer 6

-position: sitting shoulder in full flexion, elbow extended, forearm supinated
-action: flex elbow through available ROM
-goniometer: with axis at lateral epicondyle

Question 7

Biceps:
-position:
-action
-measure:

Answer 7

-position: supine shoulder at edge of table, elbow extended, forearm pronated
-action: extend shoulder
-Goniometer method:
Axis: lateral aspect of acromion process
Stationary arm: lateral midline of thorax
Moving arm: lateral epicondyle

Question 8

Ilopsoas (Thomas test)

Answer 8

Patient position: Supine, buttock toward edge of support surface, hip extended

Action: Flex contralateral hip just enough to flatten lumbar spine, testing knee flexed. Lower testing thigh toward support surface

Goniometer method:
-Axis: greater trochanter
Stationary arm: lateral midline of trunk
Moving arm: lateral epicondyle of femur

Question 9

Iliopsoas- prone

Answer 9

Patient position: prone, knee flexed to 90o

Action: stabilize pelvis and passively extend hip, keep knee flexed

Goniometer method:
- Axis: greater trochanter
- Stationary arm: lateral midline of trunk
- Moving arm: lateral epicondyle of femu

Question 10

Rectus Femoris (Thomas test)

Answer 10

Patient position: supine, buttock near edge of surface, hip extended

Action: flex contralateral hip to flatten lumbar spine, testing thigh extends toward support surface and then flex knee

Goniometer method: (if full hip extended and knee flexes to 90o , no need to measure)
- Axis: lateral epicondyle of femur
-Stationary arm: greater trochanter
-Moving arm: lateral malleolus

Question 11

Rectus femoris - prone

Answer 11

Patient position: prone, knee flexed to 90o

Action: flex knee through full available range

Goniometer method:
- Axis: lateral epicondyle of femur
- Stationary arm: greater trochanter
- Moving arm: lateral malleolus

Question 12

Hamstring (straight leg test)

Answer 12

Patient position: supine, hip and knee extended

Action: flex hip keeping knee in full extension

Goniometer method:
-Axis: greater trochanter
-Stationary arm: lateral midline of trunk
- Moving arm: lateral epicondyle of femur

Question 13

Hamstring (knee extension tetst)

Answer 13

Patient position: supine, hip flexed to 90o, contralateral leg extended

Action: extend knee maintaining hip flexion

Goniometer method:

• Axis: lateral epicondyle of knee
• Stationary arm: greater trochanter
• Moving arm: lateral malleolusIliotibial

Question 14

Iliotibial band/TFL (ober test)

Answer 14

Patient position: side-lying with hip and knee of lower leg flexed 45o

Action: stabilize pelvis, flex knee to 90o passively abduct hip then extend hip over greater trochanter, allow limb to drop toward support surface.

-Positive test- if hip remains abducted and does not fall below horizontal

(modified in full knee extension)