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Back| Muscle | Spinal Segment | Nerve | Function | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supraspinatus | C5-6 | Suprascapular Nerve | Arm Abduction | Abduct the arm from a vertical position, examiner applies resistance |
| Infraspinatus | C5-6 | Suprascapular Nerve | Arm External Rotation | Arm vertical, elbow flexed at 90°, arm externally rotated with force, examiner pushes the patient's forearm inward |
| Serratus Anterior | C5-7 | Long Thoracic Nerve | Scapular Abduction and Forward Movement | Extend arm forward, examiner applies resistance, paralyzed side scapula leaves chest wall forming winged scapula |
| Latissimus Dorsi | C6-8 | Thoracodorsal Nerve | Arm Adduction, Extension, and Internal Rotation | Forcefully lower the arm from a horizontal abduction position, examiner applies resistance |
| Pectoralis Major | C5~T1 | Medial and Lateral Pectoral Nerves | Arm Adduction, Flexion, and Internal Rotation | Maintain arm extended forward, examiner pushes arm outward |
| Deltoid | C5-6 | Axillary Nerve | Arm Abduction | Maintain arm in horizontal abduction, examiner pushes patient's elbow downward |
| Biceps Brachii | C5-6 | Musculocutaneous Nerve | Forearm Flexion and Supination | Maintain elbow flexion, forearm supination, examiner extends it |
| Triceps Brachii | C7-8 | Radial Nerve | Forearm Extension | Maintain elbow extension, examiner flexes it |
| Pronator Teres | C6-7 | Median Nerve | Forearm Pronation | Elbow semi-flexed, forearm pronated, examiner applies resistance |
| Wrist Extensors | C6-8 | Radial Nerve | Wrist Extension | Maintain wrist dorsiflexion, examiner presses down on the back of the hand |
| Extensor Digitorum | C6-8 | Radial Nerve | Extension of MCP Joints of Index to Little Finger | Forearm pronated, maintain finger extension, examiner presses down on proximal phalanges |
| Extensor Pollicis Longus | C7-8 | Radial Nerve | Extension of Distal Phalanx of Thumb | Extend distal phalanx of thumb, examiner applies resistance |
| Extensor Pollicis Brevis | C7-8 | Radial Nerve | Extension of Proximal Phalanx of Thumb | Extend proximal phalanx of thumb, examiner applies resistance |
| Abductor Pollicis Longus | C7-8 | Radial Nerve | Thumb Abduction | Abduct thumb, examiner applies resistance on the first metacarpal |
| Abductor Pollicis Brevis | C8~T1 | Median Nerve | Thumb Abduction Perpendicular to Palm | Patient performs this action, examiner applies resistance on the first metacarpal |
| Flexor Carpi Radialis | C6-7 | Median Nerve | Wrist Flexion and Abduction | Maintain wrist flexion, examiner applies resistance on the radial side of the palm |
| Flexor Carpi Ulnaris | C7~T1 | Ulnar Nerve | Wrist Flexion and Adduction | Maintain wrist flexion, examiner applies resistance on the ulnar side of the palm |
| Flexor Digitorum Superficialis | C7~T1 | Median Nerve | Flexion of PIP Joints of Index to Little Finger | Flex middle phalanges, examiner applies resistance |
| Flexor Digitorum Profundus | C7~T1 | Median Nerve (Index and Middle Fingers), Ulnar Nerve (Ring and Little Fingers) | Flexion of DIP Joints | Flex distal phalanges, examiner applies resistance |
| Flexor Pollicis Longus | C7~T1 | Median Nerve | Flexion of Distal Phalanx of Thumb | Flex distal phalanx of thumb, examiner applies resistance |
| Flexor Pollicis Brevis | C8~T1 | Median and Ulnar Nerves | Flexion of Proximal Phalanx of Thumb | Flex proximal phalanx of thumb, examiner applies resistance |
| Opponens Pollicis | C8~T1 | Median Nerve | Rotation of First Metacarpal | Extend interphalangeal joints, press distal phalanx of thumb and ring finger together, examiner separates them |
| Lumbricals | C7~T1 | Median Nerve (Index and Middle Fingers), Ulnar Nerve (Ring and Little Fingers) | Extension of Interphalangeal Joints | Extend proximal interphalangeal joints, examiner applies resistance |
| Dorsal Interossei | C8~T1 | Ulnar Nerve | Finger Abduction (excluding thumb and little finger) | Spread extended fingers, examiner brings middle three fingers together |
| Palmar Interossei | C8~T1 | Ulnar Nerve | Finger Adduction (excluding thumb) | Hold a piece of paper between extended fingers, examiner tries to pull it out |
| Abductor Digiti Minimi | C8~T1 | Ulnar Nerve | Little Finger Abduction | Abduct extended little finger, examiner applies resistance |
| Iliopsoas | L1-3 | Lumbar Plexus, Femoral Nerve | Hip Flexion | Supine, knee flexed, maintain hip flexion, examiner pushes thigh towards foot |
| Quadriceps | L2-4 | Femoral Nerve | Knee Extension | Supine, knee extended, examiner flexes it |
| Adductor Group | L2-5 | Obturator Nerve, Sciatic Nerve | Thigh Adduction | Supine, legs extended, knees together, examiner separates them |
| Gluteus Medius and Minimus | L4~S1 | Superior Gluteal Nerve | Thigh Abduction and Internal Rotation | Supine, legs extended, separate knees, examiner brings them together |
| Gluteus Maximus | L5~S2 | Inferior Gluteal Nerve | Hip Extension | Prone, legs extended, lift leg, examiner applies resistance |
| Tibialis Anterior | L4-5 | Deep Peroneal Nerve | Ankle Dorsiflexion | Maintain ankle dorsiflexion, examiner presses down on dorsum of foot |
| Extensor Hallucis Longus | L4~S1 | Deep Peroneal Nerve | Extension of Great Toe and Ankle Dorsiflexion | Fix foot in neutral position, extend great toe, examiner applies resistance |
| Extensor Digitorum Longus | L4~S1 | Deep Peroneal Nerve | Extension of Toes and Ankle Dorsiflexion | Fix foot in neutral position, extend toes, examiner applies resistance |
| Gastrocnemius and Soleus | L5~S2 | Tibial Nerve | Ankle Plantarflexion | Knee extended, ankle plantarflexed, examiner applies resistance |
| Flexor Hallucis Longus | L5~S2 | Tibial Nerve | Plantarflexion of Great Toe | Fix foot in neutral position, plantarflex great toe, examiner applies resistance on distal phalanx |
| Flexor Digitorum Longus | L5~S2 | Tibial Nerve | Plantarflexion of Toes | Fix foot in neutral position, plantarflex toes, examiner applies resistance |
| Tibialis Posterior | L5~S1 | Tibial Nerve | Foot Inversion | Foot plantarflexed, invert foot, examiner applies resistance on medial side of foot |
| Peroneal Muscles | L4~S1 | Peroneal Nerve | Foot Eversion | Foot plantarflexed, evert foot, examiner applies resistance on lateral side of foot |
| Biceps Femoris | L4~S2 | Tibial Nerve | Knee Flexion | Prone, maintain knee flexion, examiner pushes lower leg towards foot |
Explanation
Testing the strength of each muscle requires assessing the strength of specific movements. Not every patient needs to test all muscles and strengths; focus on key tests based on the condition.
