Muscle strength testing methods mainly include manual muscle strength examination and instrument examination.
1. Manual muscle strength test
Manual muscle strength test is a test in which the examiner uses his own hands, relies on his own skills and judgment, and observes the active movement of the limbs in accordance with certain standards. It is a test method to judge whether the muscle strength is normal and its level by measuring the range and feeling the force of muscle contraction. It can only show that the size of muscle strength cannot represent the endurance of muscle contraction.
The commonly used manual examination and muscle strength grading method in clinical practice was proposed by K.W. Lovett in 1916. The specific operations have been modified since then, but its principles have not changed. This method allows the tested muscles to perform standard test movements in a certain posture to observe their ability to complete the movements. The tester applies resistance or assistance by hand.
2. Equipment inspection
When the muscle strength exceeds level 3, in order to further conduct a more detailed quantitative assessment, special equipment must be used for muscle strength testing. There are different testing methods according to different contraction methods of muscles, including isometric muscle strength test, isotonic muscle strength test and isokinetic muscle strength test.
Commonly used methods are as follows:
1. Isometric muscle strength test
Use a dynamometer to measure the isometric strength of a muscle or muscle group in a standard posture. Contraction (isometric contraction) muscle strength.
2. Isotonic muscle strength test.
That is to measure the maximum resistance that a muscle can overcome when it undergoes isotonic contraction to move a joint through its full range of motion. The maximum resistance for one exercise is called the maximum resistance. It is the maximum resistance that can be overcome when completing 10 consecutive exercises (10RM). When measuring, the appropriate load and the increase in load for each test should be estimated.
Avoid repeated testing that may cause muscle fatigue and affect the test results. Exercise loads can be carried out with dumbbells, sandbags, and weight-bearing exercisers with quantifiable weights. This method is rarely used in rehabilitation medicine.
3. Isokinetic muscle strength test
Use a Cybex type isokinetic dynamometer with a computer. During the test, the limbs drive the lever of the instrument to make a large reciprocating motion. The movement speed is preset with an instrument. Muscle force cannot accelerate the movement, but can only increase muscle tension and torque output.
The change of this moment is recorded by the instrument, and the change of the joint angle is simultaneously recorded, drawn into a double guide curve, and automatically recorded as data. This isokinetic testing method is accurate and reasonable, can provide multi-faceted data, and has become a good method for studying muscle function and mechanical properties.
Extended information
Muscle strength refers to the ability of a muscle or muscle group to produce tension and cause static or dynamic contraction. It can also be regarded as the force generated by muscle contraction. Muscle strength measurement is an important part of rehabilitation assessment and an important method for muscle function assessment.
Muscle strength is generally divided into the following levels: 0-5, with six levels:
Level 0 is complete paralysis and no muscle contraction can be detected.
Level 1: Only muscle contraction is detected, but no movement can be produced.
Level 2: The limbs can move parallel on the bed, but cannot resist their own gravity, that is, they cannot be lifted off the bed.
Level 3: The limbs can overcome gravity and can be lifted off the bed, but cannot resist resistance.
Level 4: The limbs can move against external resistance, but not completely.
Level 5: Normal muscle strength.
The purpose and significance of the assessment:
1. Muscle strength assessment can help determine whether there is muscle weakness and the scope and degree of muscle weakness.
2. Discover the causes of low muscle strength.
3. Provide basis for formulating treatment and training plans.
4. Test the effects of treatment and training.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Muscle Strength