MMT Clinical Applications 2

Question 1

A patient with a C5 spinal cord injury is being evaluated. Which muscle would you test to determine C5 motor function?

Accepted Answer

Elbow flexors (biceps brachii)

Answer

Wrist extensors (extensor carpi radialis)

Answer

Finger flexors (flexor digitorum profundus)

Answer

Intrinsic hand muscles (interossei)

Question 2

During MMT of the hip abductors, a patient can hold the position against gravity but gives way with minimal resistance. What grade is assigned?

Accepted Answer

Grade 4-

Answer

Grade 3

Answer

Grade 3+

Answer

Grade 4

Question 3

When testing the serratus anterior, winging of the scapula during a wall push-up test most likely indicates weakness or paralysis due to injury of which nerve?

Accepted Answer

Long thoracic nerve

Answer

Suprascapular nerve

Answer

Axillary nerve

Answer

Dorsal scapular nerve

Question 4

A patient post-stroke has spasticity in the elbow flexors. Which modification is most important when performing MMT on this patient?

Accepted Answer

Apply resistance slowly to avoid triggering the stretch reflex

Answer

Use a break test rather than active motion

Answer

Test only in the antigravity position

Answer

Grade the muscle one level higher to compensate for spasticity

Question 5

In Guillain-Barré syndrome, MMT findings typically show which pattern of weakness?

Accepted Answer

Distal > proximal, symmetric ascending

Answer

Proximal > distal, asymmetric

Answer

Proximal only, unilateral

Answer

Distal only, affecting intrinsics first

Question 6

A therapist finds that a patient's tibialis anterior grades 3/5. Which functional activity would this patient most likely struggle with?

Accepted Answer

Heel walking

Answer

Standing on one leg

Answer

Toe walking

Answer

Sit-to-stand transfers

Question 7

When performing MMT on a patient with myasthenia gravis, the therapist should be aware that muscle strength may:

Accepted Answer

Be greater in the morning and deteriorate with repeated testing

Answer

Be consistent regardless of fatigue level

Answer

Improve with repetitive testing due to warm-up effect

Answer

Show proximal-to-distal progression of weakness during testing