Which description best matches 5/5 strength?

Which description best matches 5/5 strength?

• A. Normal strength — full ROM against gravity with maximal resistance.
• B. Active movement through full ROM with no gravity.
• C. Movement only with gravity eliminated.
• D. Palpable contraction without movement.

Answer: (A)

Strength in manual muscle testing is graded by how much the muscle can move the joint and how much additional load it can resist. Five out of five equals normal strength: the muscle can move the joint through the entire available range while the tester applies the maximum resistance the patient can still overcome. This combination—full range of motion, movement against gravity, and sustainment of maximal external force—is what defines normal strength. The other descriptions describe weaker testing scenarios. Moving through the full range without gravity means the limb isn’t working under the challenge of gravity, which does not meet the criterion for normal strength. Movement only when gravity is eliminated indicates a weaker grade, and a palpable contraction without movement shows only minimal strength, not normal strength.

Strength in manual muscle testing is graded by how much the muscle can move the joint and how much additional load it can resist. Five out of five equals normal strength: the muscle can move the joint through the entire available range while the tester applies the maximum resistance the patient can still overcome. This combination—full range of motion, movement against gravity, and sustainment of maximal external force—is what defines normal strength.

The other descriptions describe weaker testing scenarios. Moving through the full range without gravity means the limb isn’t working under the challenge of gravity, which does not meet the criterion for normal strength. Movement only when gravity is eliminated indicates a weaker grade, and a palpable contraction without movement shows only minimal strength, not normal strength.