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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Assessment and Examination

Manual muscle testing

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, manual muscle testing means: A way of grading muscle strength by asking the patient to move or hold against gravity and against the physiotherapist's resistance, usually scored from 0 to 5.

In Turkish: manuel kas testi

How it is used

Often shortened to MMT. The common 0–5 grading is also called the Oxford or MRC scale: 0 means no contraction, 3 means full movement against gravity and 5 means normal strength. Notes read like 'quadriceps 4/5'.

Example sentences

  1. Manual muscle testing showed 3/5 strength in the right ankle dorsiflexors.

  2. For manual muscle testing, keep your arm here and don't let me push it down.

Common collocations

  • perform manual muscle testing
  • Oxford scale
  • MRC scale
  • grade 4 out of 5
  • objective assessmentThe part of a physiotherapy assessment in which the physiotherapist observes, measures and tests the patient's body, for example movement, strength and special tests.
  • strengtheningExercise that makes muscles stronger by asking them to work against a load, such as body weight, an elastic band or weights.
  • active range of motionHow far a joint can move when the patient moves it with their own muscles, without any help.

More terms: Assessment and Examination

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.