muscle length testing Flashcards
how is the length of pec major tested
Start position: crook lying, flat Lx.
* Test movement for lower (sterncostal fibres): Place patient’s arm in
approx. 135° abduction, elbow extended. Shoulder will be in lateral
rotation
* Normal length: Arm drops to table level, Lx remaining flat.
* Shortness: Extended arm does not drop to table level
* Test movement for upper (clavicular fibres): Patient’s arm placed in
horizontal abduction, elbow extended, shoulder in LR (palm upwards)
* Normal length: Full horizontal abduction, with LR, arm flat on table,
without trunk rotation
* Shortness: arm does not drop down to table level
how is latissimus dorsi assessed
Start position: Crook lying, Lx flat. Arms by sides, elbows extended.
* Test movement: Patient raises both arms in flexion overhead,
keeping the arms close to the head (maintaining flat Lx)
* Normal length: The ability to bring the arms down to table level,
keeping them close to the head (without changing lx position)
* Shortness: unable to get arms to table level
how are long finger flexors (flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus) measured
Long finger flexors – act as both a wrist flexor and flexors of all finger
joints (note: FDS does not affect DIP movement as it inserts into the
middle phalanges)
* Test wrist extension PROM with finger flexed
* Test finger extension PROM with wrist in neutral
* Test wrist and finger extension combined. If there is a loss of PROM
at either wrist or fingers this is indicative of FDP shortening
how are the hamstrings tested
stright leg raising
Start position: Supine. Legs extended, Lx flat.
* Hold 1 thigh flat (if possible)
* Lift the opposite leg, maintaining knee in extension, foot relaxed
normal range 80 degree
why does the foot remain relaxed during straight leg raise
to avoid impact of gastroc, if ankle DF and gastroc tight may cause knee to flex and affect result
what needs to be watched out for
increase lumbar lordosis and anterior tilt
as makes hip joint appear to start in flexion, so hamstrings will appear shorter
excessive posterior tilt
will make length appear greater
how is popliteal angle measured and what does it test
Start position: supine
* Hip at 90°, opposite leg in extension.
* Passively extend knee as far as you can (ensuring pelvis doesn’t move)
* Measure knee position. Popliteal angle is the measure between the
tibia and vertical (i.e. how many degrees the knee is off of full
extension).
hamstring length
how is rectus femoris shortening measured
thomas test
prone knee bend
how is thomas test conducted?
Start position: Seated at the end of the plinth
*Patient knee to chest, therapist support them back into lying.
*Lx should be just flat
*Normal length of 1 joint hip flexors: Lower thigh touches the plinth, knee passively flexes to approx. 80°
*Shortness of 1 and 2 joint flexors: Lower thigh cannot touch plinth and the knee extends
*Normal length of 1 joint flexors, and shortness of 2 joint hip flexors: Lower thigh touches the plinth. Passive knee
extension less than 80 °
*Shortness of 1 joint flexors but no shortness of 2 joint flexors Posterior thigh does not touch the plinth, knee can be
flexed beyond 80°
what is a contraindication for the thomas test?
Posterior hip replacement
* Suspected fracture
Cautions:
* Acute lumbar instability
* Suspected muscle injury to hip flexors
How is the prone knee bend conducted and what is its use
Useful to compare rectus femoris length left vs right
* Note pelvis position
* Start position: prone
* Passively flex 1 knee, stop when pelvis starts to move
How is gastrocnemius tested for shortening
knee positions is used to differentiate between gastrocnemius shortening and soleus tightness
