Kendall Muscle Grading System

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Kendall Muscle Grades

Table 1. Kendall Muscle Grading

Grade	Description
No Movement	No Contraction Felt or Seen in the Muscle	Zero	0	0	0	0
	Tendon becomes prominent or feeble contraction felt in muscle with no visible movement	Trace	T	1	T
Supported in Horizontal Plane *	Movement through partial range of motion	Poor -	P-	2-	1	+
	M0vement through complete range of motion for the muscle being tested	Poor	P	2	2
	Holds against slight pressure in test position **	Poor +	P+	2+	3
Tests in Antigravity Position	Moves through partial range of motion against gravity	Poor +	P+	2+	3
	Gradual release from test position occurs	Fair -	F-	3-	4
	Holds test position (No added pressure)	Fair	F	3	5	++
	Holds test position against slight pressure	Fair +	F+	3+	6
	Holds test position against slight to moderate pressure	Good -	G-	4-	7
	Holds test position against moderate pressure	Good	G	4	8	+++
	Holds test position against moderate to strong pressure	Good +	G+	4+	9
	Holds test position against strong pressure	Normal	N	5	10	++++