Final answer:
The MMT for the pectoralis major sternal head involves a patient resisting the examiner's force while pushing their arm across their chest, with strength graded on a 0 to 5 scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
MMT for Pectoralis Major Sternal Head
The question refers to the manual muscle testing (MMT) procedure for the sternal head of the pectoralis major muscle. MMT is a physical examination technique used by health professionals to assess muscle strength and detect muscle dysfunction. For the pectoralis major sternal head, the assessment involves the patient lying supine (on their back) on an examination table. The examiner places one hand on the patient's wrist and asks the patient to push against the resistance by moving their arm toward the midline of the body, across their chest. The patient's elbow can be straight or slightly bent. The strength of the muscle is graded based on the patient's ability to resist the examiner's force.
The strength is then rated on a scale typically ranging from 0 to 5, where:
- 0 indicates no visible muscle contraction
- 1 indicates a visible muscle contraction without joint movement
- 2 indicates movement with gravity eliminated
- 3 indicates movement against gravity
- 4 indicates movement against gravity with some resistance
- 5 indicates normal strength, movement against gravity with full resistance
Proper positioning and alignment are critical for an accurate assessment to prevent compensatory movements from other muscle groups. During the test, it's important to consider the patient's comfort and to monitor for any signs of strain or pain.