Manual Muscle Testing: Knee Flexion
Muscles Involved:[edit | edit source]
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosis
Semimembranosis
Patient Positioning[edit | edit source]
- Grades 3 to 5 - Patient is in prone, knee extended
- Grades 0-2 - Patient is in side lying, knee extended
Joint start Position[edit | edit source]
The knee should be in extension.
Therapist Position[edit | edit source]
- Therapist to stand at test side in prone
- If patient is in side lying, therapist to stand behind the patient support the lower leg through movement as required.
To Test[edit | edit source]
- Patient actively flexes the knee through range.
- For grades 4 to 5 apply resistance through the distal tibia and fibula in a direction opposite to flexion
Biasing Muscle Groups[edit | edit source]
- To bias laterally-inserting muscles: externally rotate the tibia in combination with flexion
- To bias medially-inserting muscles: internally rotate the tibia in combination with flexion[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Hislop H, Avers D, Brown M. Daniels and Worthingham's muscle Testing-E-Book: Techniques of manual examination and performance testing. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013 Sep 27.
