Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility
The manual muscle test (MMT) is a flexible diagnostic tool, which is used in many disciplines, applied in several ways. The main problem is the subjectivity of the test. The MMT in the version of a “break test” depends on the tester’s force rise and the patient’s ability to resist the applied force....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/12/996 |
| _version_ | 1797546839091707904 |
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| author | Frank N. Bittmann Silas Dech Markus Aehle Laura V. Schaefer |
| author_facet | Frank N. Bittmann Silas Dech Markus Aehle Laura V. Schaefer |
| author_sort | Frank N. Bittmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The manual muscle test (MMT) is a flexible diagnostic tool, which is used in many disciplines, applied in several ways. The main problem is the subjectivity of the test. The MMT in the version of a “break test” depends on the tester’s force rise and the patient’s ability to resist the applied force. As a first step, the investigation of the reproducibility of the testers’ force profile is required for valid application. The study examined the force profiles of <i>n</i> = 29 testers (<i>n</i> = 9 experiences (Exp), <i>n</i> = 8 little experienced (LitExp), <i>n</i> = 12 beginners (Beg)). The testers performed 10 MMTs according to the test of hip flexors, but against a fixed leg to exclude the patient’s reaction. A handheld device recorded the temporal course of the applied force. The results show significant differences between Exp and Beg concerning the starting force (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.029), the ratio of starting to maximum force (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.005) and the normalized mean Euclidean distances between the 10 trials (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.015). The slope is significantly higher in Exp vs. LitExp (<i>p</i> = 0.006) and Beg (<i>p</i> = 0.005). The results also indicate that experienced testers show inter-tester differences and partly even a low intra-tester reproducibility. This highlights the necessity of an objective MMT-assessment. Furthermore, an agreement on a standardized force profile is required. A suggestion for this is given. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:34:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-582ae5d1663c412b8cf6d38e37098369 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:34:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-582ae5d1663c412b8cf6d38e370983692023-11-20T22:16:01ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182020-11-01101299610.3390/diagnostics10120996Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their ReproducibilityFrank N. Bittmann0Silas Dech1Markus Aehle2Laura V. Schaefer3Division Regulative Physiology and Prevention, Department Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDivision Regulative Physiology and Prevention, Department Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDivision Regulative Physiology and Prevention, Department Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDivision Regulative Physiology and Prevention, Department Sports and Health Sciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyThe manual muscle test (MMT) is a flexible diagnostic tool, which is used in many disciplines, applied in several ways. The main problem is the subjectivity of the test. The MMT in the version of a “break test” depends on the tester’s force rise and the patient’s ability to resist the applied force. As a first step, the investigation of the reproducibility of the testers’ force profile is required for valid application. The study examined the force profiles of <i>n</i> = 29 testers (<i>n</i> = 9 experiences (Exp), <i>n</i> = 8 little experienced (LitExp), <i>n</i> = 12 beginners (Beg)). The testers performed 10 MMTs according to the test of hip flexors, but against a fixed leg to exclude the patient’s reaction. A handheld device recorded the temporal course of the applied force. The results show significant differences between Exp and Beg concerning the starting force (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.029), the ratio of starting to maximum force (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.005) and the normalized mean Euclidean distances between the 10 trials (p<sub>adj</sub> = 0.015). The slope is significantly higher in Exp vs. LitExp (<i>p</i> = 0.006) and Beg (<i>p</i> = 0.005). The results also indicate that experienced testers show inter-tester differences and partly even a low intra-tester reproducibility. This highlights the necessity of an objective MMT-assessment. Furthermore, an agreement on a standardized force profile is required. A suggestion for this is given.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/12/996manual muscle testingneuromuscular diagnosticsforce profilesreproducibilityadaptive forcehandheld device |
| spellingShingle | Frank N. Bittmann Silas Dech Markus Aehle Laura V. Schaefer Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility Diagnostics manual muscle testing neuromuscular diagnostics force profiles reproducibility adaptive force handheld device |
| title | Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility |
| title_full | Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility |
| title_fullStr | Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility |
| title_short | Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility |
| title_sort | manual muscle testing force profiles and their reproducibility |
| topic | manual muscle testing neuromuscular diagnostics force profiles reproducibility adaptive force handheld device |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/10/12/996 |
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