In hip extension MMT with gravity minimized, how is the patient positioned?

In hip extension MMT with gravity minimized, how is the patient positioned?

• A. Supine with leg supported
• B. Side-lying with tested limb on top supported on a powder board or by the clinician; knee loosely extended; bottom hip and knee flexed for stability
• C. Prone with hips flexed
• D. Seated with back supported

Answer: (B)

When testing hip extension with gravity minimized, you want to remove the effect of gravity so the muscle’s true strength can be assessed. The best way to do this is to have the patient lie on their side, with the leg being tested on top. Keep the knee of the top leg straight to bias toward the hip extensors (primarily the gluteus maximus) and reduce hamstring involvement. The bottom leg stays flexed, providing stability to the pelvis and trunk, and the examiner supports the top leg so gravity doesn’t move it into extension or flexion. This position offers a stable base and isolates the hip extensors without gravity aiding or opposing the movement. Other positions would not minimize gravity effectively or would place the hip in a different plane of movement (for example, a prone position emphasizes hip flexion actions, while supine or seated positions don’t create the same stable, gravity-minimized setup).

When testing hip extension with gravity minimized, you want to remove the effect of gravity so the muscle’s true strength can be assessed. The best way to do this is to have the patient lie on their side, with the leg being tested on top. Keep the knee of the top leg straight to bias toward the hip extensors (primarily the gluteus maximus) and reduce hamstring involvement. The bottom leg stays flexed, providing stability to the pelvis and trunk, and the examiner supports the top leg so gravity doesn’t move it into extension or flexion. This position offers a stable base and isolates the hip extensors without gravity aiding or opposing the movement. Other positions would not minimize gravity effectively or would place the hip in a different plane of movement (for example, a prone position emphasizes hip flexion actions, while supine or seated positions don’t create the same stable, gravity-minimized setup).