Guidelines for conducting MMTs
- Start on the unaffected side
- Do movements which are likely to elicit pain last to prevent the client from tensing up or hesitating
- Tap the client on the area you want them to resist against, indicating the direction of movement
- Apply resistance for a minimum of 10 seconds
- Ensure the client does not do any sudden movements
- When encountering pain, take note of when and where it arose and get the client to describe severity and quality
- Weakness often shows as inability to provide resistance or as shaking
Before Resisted Tests
Instruct the client
- how to position the body part to be assessed
- to match the resistance slowly and smoothly
- to stop resisting at the first sign of pain
- to stop resisting at the completion of test
During Resisted Tests
- instruct the client on how to perform the test
- ensure resistance is applied distally to the joint being assessed (preferably without crossing the next joint where possible)
- increase resistance slowly and smoothly
- do not allow concentric contraction
- stop the test at the first sign of pain
- hold for minimum of 10 seconds
- direct the client to stop resisting at the completion of test
After Resisted Test
- communicate your findings from (BL) resistance tests
- record ALL information, include comments on strength difference, pain and quality of resistance