MMT Lower Extremity Testing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When testing hip abductor strength at grade 3, what is the correct patient position?
- Supine with legs extended
- Side-lying with test limb uppermost (Correct answer)
- Sitting with legs dangling
- Prone with knee flexed
Correct answer: Side-lying with test limb uppermost
Grade 3 hip abduction is tested in side-lying so the patient must move the limb against gravity without added resistance.
Question 2: Which muscle is the primary hip external rotator tested with the patient prone and knee flexed to 90°?
- Gluteus medius
- Piriformis (Correct answer)
- Tensor fasciae latae
- Adductor magnus
Correct answer: Piriformis
The piriformis is a primary hip external rotator and is isolated in prone with the knee flexed, allowing the therapist to apply resistance to the lower leg.
Question 3: A patient can complete full knee extension ROM against gravity but cannot tolerate any added resistance. What MMT grade is assigned?
- Grade 2
- Grade 3 (Correct answer)
- Grade 4
- Grade 5
Correct answer: Grade 3
Grade 3 (Fair) indicates the ability to complete full ROM against gravity with no additional resistance.
Question 4: During ankle plantar flexion MMT, why is a single-limb heel raise preferred over manual resistance in supine?
- It is less painful for the patient
- It provides a functional body-weight load that standard manual resistance cannot replicate (Correct answer)
- It isolates the peroneus longus more accurately
- It eliminates the need for grading
Correct answer: It provides a functional body-weight load that standard manual resistance cannot replicate
The gastrocnemius and soleus must lift body weight during a heel raise, making it a more valid functional test than therapist-applied resistance in supine.
Question 5: Which nerve root level is primarily assessed when testing great toe extension strength?
- L3
- L4
- L5 (Correct answer)
- S1
Correct answer: L5
Extensor hallucis longus, the primary great toe extensor, is innervated by the deep peroneal nerve at the L5 nerve root.
Question 6: A therapist stabilizes the distal femur and applies resistance to the posterior lower leg during prone knee flexion testing. What muscle group is being assessed?
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings (Correct answer)
- Hip extensors
- Ankle dorsiflexors
Correct answer: Hamstrings
Prone knee flexion with resistance applied to the posterior lower leg tests hamstring strength (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus).
Question 7: What does a Grade 1 (Trace) finding indicate during MMT of the hip flexors?
- No visible or palpable contraction
- Visible or palpable muscle contraction with no joint movement (Correct answer)
- Movement through partial ROM against gravity
- Full ROM in gravity-eliminated position
Correct answer: Visible or palpable muscle contraction with no joint movement
Grade 1 (Trace) means a palpable or visible contraction is detected but it produces no joint movement.
MMT Lower Extremity Testing 2
When testing hip abductor strength at grade 3, what is the correct patient position?