Manual Muscle Testing: Plantarflexion
Muscles Involved:[edit | edit source]
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
OR
- Soleus only
Patient Positioning[edit | edit source]
For testing gastrocnemius and soleus together:
- Grades 3-5 - Test in standing on test leg, knee extended, patient can hold stable object such as a table or bench for balance
- Grades 0-2 - Test in prone position, knee extended.
For testing soleus only:
- Grades 3-5 - Test in standing on test leg, knee slightly FLEXED, patient can hold stable object such as a table or bench for balance
- Grades 0-2 - Test in prone with testing side knee bent to 90 degrees.
Joint start Position[edit | edit source]
Therapist Position[edit | edit source]
Both gastrocnemius and soleus together and soleus only:
- Grades 3-5 - Therapist to position comfortably with a lateral view of the movement being performed
- Grades 0-2 - Therapist to position at the feet
To Test[edit | edit source]
- Patient actively everts
- Therapist give resistance towards inversion & slight dorsiflexion
Grading[edit | edit source]
Grade 5 - > 25 quality repetitions in standing test position
Grade 4 - 10-24 quality repetitions in standing test position
Grade 3 - 1-9 quality repetitions in standing test position
Grade 2 - movement through range, resistance eliminated (prone test position)
Grace 1 - potentially movement through some amount of range however minimal, flicker of muscle contractile activity palpated by therapist
Grade 0 - No movement & no contractile activity palpated