Question

A COTA is completing a manual muscle test of a patient who has upper extremity weakness. While testing elbow flexion, the patient has no visible movement but the COTA palpates a flicker in the biceps tendon. Which muscle strength grade is MOST CONSISTENT with this response?

1. Trace (1/5)
2. Poor (2/5)
3. Poor minus (2-/5)

Answer 1

A flicker in the biceps tendon during a manual muscle strength test, with no visible movement, indicates a muscle strength grade of Trace (1/5), representative of slight contractile activity in the context of upper extremity weakness.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) is completing a manual muscle strength test and observes no visible movement but palpates a flicker in the biceps tendon during elbow flexion, this finding is most consistent with a muscle strength grade of Trace (1/5). This grade indicates that despite the absence of observable muscle motion, there is evidence of slight contractile activity, and a trace of muscle contraction can be detected upon palpation. This is important in assessing and diagnosing the degree of upper extremity weakness, which could be related to a variety of conditions impacting the motor system.