Myotomes

Question 1

What is a myotome

Answer 1

A muscle or group of muscles supplied by a single spinal nerve

Question 2

What are you testing

Answer 2

Power over a period of 6 seconds

Question 3

Types of Response

Answer 3

Normal weak

Question 4

Most concerning response

Answer 4

Weakness as it indicates the possibility of comprise of the motor part of the spinal nerve so spinal nerve root compression

Question 5

C1

upper cervical flexion

Retraction

Answer 5

Upper cervical flexion

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Place one hand underthe model’s chin. Apply progressive resistance under the chin as the model
performs upper cervical flexion

Question 6

C2

upper cervical extension

Protraction

Answer 6

upper cervical extension

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Place one hand over the model’s occiput and the thumb web of your other hand over the anterior
aspect of the model’s chin. Apply progressive resistance against the model’s chin as they perform
upper cervical extension (otherwise known as protraction).

Question 7

C3

cervical lateral flexion

Answer 7

Cervical lateral flexion

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Place one hand against the lateral side of the model’s head and apply progressive resistance as the
model laterally flexes their head against your hand. Repeat the same technique on the other side.

Question 8

C4

Elevation shoulder girdle

Answer 8

Elevation shoulder girdle

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Place your hands over the superior aspect of the model’s shoulders and apply a downwards pressure
as the model actively performs bilateral shoulder girdle elevation.

Question 9

C5

Shoulder abduction

Answer 9

shoulder abduction

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Ask the model to perform active bilateral shoulder abduction to approx. 80 degrees. Now place your
handsoverthesuperioraspectofthemodel’supperarmsandapplypressure inadownwards
direction (in the direction of adduction).

Question 10

C6

elbow flexion

Answer 10

elbow flexion

Sit on plinth feet on stool

Ask the model to perform active bilateral elbow flexion 90degrees. Now place your
hands over the anterior aspect of the model’s forearms and apply resistance in a downwards
direction (in the direction of extension) as the model attempts to flex their elbow joints.

Question 11

C7

Elow extension

Answer 11

Elbow extension

Sit on plinth feet on stool

For the starting position,ask the model to actively flex both elbows 90 degrees. Now
place your hands over the posterior aspect of the model’s forearms and apply resistance in an
upwards direction (in the direction of flexion)as the model attempts to extend their elbow joints.

Question 12

C8

thumb extension

Answer 12

Thumb extension

Sit on plinth feet on stool forearms resting on
a pillow in the mid-pronation

Ask the model to actively perform bilateral thumb extension. Now place your own thumbs over the
dorsal aspect of the model’s thumb and apply resistance in a downwards direction (in the direction
of flexion).

Question 13

T1

Finger abduction/adduction

Answer 13

Finger abduction/adduction

Sit on plinth feet on stool elbows flexed to 90
degrees and forearms pronated

Ask the model to actively perform bilateral MCP flexion whilst maintaining their IP joints in extension
(‘lumbrical’action). Now instruct the model to keep their fingers together (adducted) whilst you
attempt to systematically separate their fingers apart (in the direction of abduction).