Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website. 88 Anatomy & Physiology Essentials Lab Manual Elbow Flexion Test 1. Ask the patient to assume a comfortable, seated position, with arms relaxed at the side. 2. Ask the patient to move the left elbow into 90 degrees of flexion, with the elbow tucked in close to the side. The forearm should be in full supination, as shown in Figure 6.3A. 3. Apply a gentle downward pressure on the patient’s forearm, attempting to move the elbow into extension, while providing a verbal cue for the patient to contract the biceps brachii and produce an isometric contraction, preventing the elbow from moving into extension. Perform this test for no more than 5 seconds. HINT Use common language such as “don’t let me move your arm” or “hold your arm in place even as I push” these instructions can be understood by patients of all ages. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using the patient’s right elbow. 5. Record your observations. _ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What muscles are being tested in this manual muscle test? _ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Which is the antagonist muscle? _ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Shoulder Abduction Test SAFETY If switching between partners for manual muscle tests, make sure to change your gloves. If you are not using gloves, always wash or sanitize your hands before and after each procedure. Although transmission risk is low in the classroom, it is good practice for working in a clinical setting, where the risk is much higher. 8. With the patient in the same seated position as for the biceps test, with arms relaxed at the side, ask the patient to move the left shoulder into 90 degrees of abduction, with the elbow fully extended and forearm pronated, as shown in Figure 6.3B. Figure 6.3A Saskia D. Richter, author Figure 6.3B Saskia D. Richter, author