MMT Patient Positioning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: To test the lower trapezius against gravity, the patient is placed in:
- Supine with arm at 45° abduction
- Seated with arm overhead
- Prone with arm at 120° abduction and elbow extended (Correct answer)
- Side-lying with arm forward flexed
Correct answer: Prone with arm at 120° abduction and elbow extended
Prone with the arm at 120° abduction targets the lower trapezius as it works against gravity to retract and depress the scapula.
Question 2: Which position is used to assess the rhomboids in gravity-eliminated testing?
- Prone with arm at side
- Seated leaning forward with arm behind the back (Correct answer)
- Supine with shoulder at 90° flexion
- Side-lying on the tested side with arm forward
Correct answer: Seated leaning forward with arm behind the back
Seated leaning forward positions the scapula in a horizontal plane so retraction is gravity-eliminated for rhomboid testing.
Question 3: A therapist wants to test the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) against gravity. The correct position is:
- Supine
- Prone
- Side-lying on the non-tested side (Correct answer)
- Seated
Correct answer: Side-lying on the non-tested side
Side-lying on the non-tested side places the tested limb uppermost, requiring the TFL to perform hip flexion and abduction against gravity.
Question 4: When testing the biceps brachii in a gravity-eliminated position, the arm should be:
- Horizontally abducted at 90°, forearm supported (Correct answer)
- At the side, elbow flexed to 90°
- Elevated overhead with elbow extended
- Across the chest with forearm supinated
Correct answer: Horizontally abducted at 90°, forearm supported
Horizontal abduction with the forearm supported on a table or the patient's trunk allows elbow flexion in a gravity-eliminated plane.
Question 5: For MMT of the anterior deltoid at grade 3, the patient is positioned:
- Supine with the arm at the side
- Seated with the elbow extended (Correct answer)
- Prone with the arm hanging off the table
- Side-lying on the non-tested side
Correct answer: Seated with the elbow extended
Seated with the elbow extended allows the anterior deltoid to flex the shoulder against gravity for a grade 3 assessment.
Question 6: During gravity-eliminated testing of the hip adductors, the non-tested limb is placed in:
- Extension flat on the table
- Abduction supported by the examiner or a sling (Correct answer)
- Flexion with knee bent
- Crossed over the tested limb
Correct answer: Abduction supported by the examiner or a sling
The non-tested limb is held in abduction to allow the tested limb to adduct freely in a gravity-eliminated horizontal plane.
Question 7: When testing finger flexors in a gravity-eliminated position, the forearm is placed in:
- Full pronation
- Full supination
- Neutral with ulnar border down (Correct answer)
- Supported at 45° by the examiner
Correct answer: Neutral with ulnar border down
Neutral forearm rotation with the ulnar border resting on the table positions finger flexion in a gravity-eliminated horizontal plane.
MMT Patient Positioning 3
To test the lower trapezius against gravity, the patient is placed in: