MMT Patient Positioning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When testing the gluteus medius at grade 3, which position is the patient placed in?
- Supine with hip flexed
- Side-lying on the tested side
- Side-lying on the non-tested side (Correct answer)
- Prone with knee flexed
Correct answer: Side-lying on the non-tested side
Side-lying on the non-tested side allows the tested limb to move against gravity for a grade 3 assessment of gluteus medius.
Question 2: Which patient position is used to test the iliopsoas muscle against gravity (grade 3+)?
- Prone
- Side-lying
- Supine
- Seated at edge of table (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Seated at edge of table
Seated at the edge of the table allows the hip flexors to work against gravity during MMT of the iliopsoas.
Question 3: For MMT of the tibialis anterior against gravity, the patient is positioned:
- Supine with knee extended
- Prone with knee flexed
- Seated with knee flexed to 90° (Correct answer)
- Side-lying on the tested side
Correct answer: Seated with knee flexed to 90°
Seated with the knee flexed to 90° allows dorsiflexion to occur against gravity for tibialis anterior testing.
Question 4: What is the correct position to test wrist extensors in a gravity-eliminated plane?
- Forearm pronated on the table
- Forearm supinated on the table
- Forearm in neutral (thumb up) resting on the table (Correct answer)
- Elbow flexed to 90° with forearm hanging
Correct answer: Forearm in neutral (thumb up) resting on the table
Forearm in neutral (thumb up) with the ulnar border resting on the table allows wrist extension in a gravity-eliminated plane.
Question 5: During MMT of the serratus anterior, the patient is typically positioned:
- Prone with arm at side
- Supine with shoulder flexed to 90° (Correct answer)
- Seated with arm raised overhead
- Side-lying on the non-tested side
Correct answer: Supine with shoulder flexed to 90°
Supine with the shoulder flexed to 90° allows the examiner to assess scapular protraction while the serratus anterior works against gravity.
Question 6: When performing gravity-eliminated testing of the hip extensors, the patient should be positioned in:
- Prone
- Supine
- Side-lying on the tested side (Correct answer)
- Side-lying on the non-tested side
Correct answer: Side-lying on the tested side
Side-lying on the tested side places hip extension in a horizontal plane, eliminating the effect of gravity.
Question 7: For testing the gastrocnemius at grade 3, single-leg heel raise is performed with the patient in which position?
- Seated with knee extended
- Standing with support (Correct answer)
- Prone with knee extended
- Supine with foot over edge of table
Correct answer: Standing with support
Standing with support allows a single-leg heel raise against body weight, which is the standard grade 3 test for gastrocnemius.
MMT Patient Positioning 2
When testing the gluteus medius at grade 3, which position is the patient placed in?