Keiser University
PHT 1261C Tests and Measurements
Muscle Length Testing Lab Handout
P: Position; M: Movement
ROM: ROM measurement
1. Latissimus Dorsi & Teres Major
P: Supine with back flat & hips & knees flexed; arms at side
M: flex BUE until low back starts to arch
R: B shoulder flexion (goniometry); amount of lumbar hyperextension – mild, moderate, severe
2. Pectoralis Major – sternal head
P: supine with back flat & hips & knees flexed
M: ER & flex shoulders in line with muscle fibers
R: B shoulder flexion (goniometry)
3. Pectoralis Major – clavicular head
P: supine with hips and knees flexed
M: horizontal abduction to 90 with shoulder ER
R: distance of elbow to table top
4. Shoulder Medial Rotators (IR) (Latissimus Dorsi, Pectoralis Major, Subscapularis, Teres Major,
Anterior Deltoid)
P: Supine with hips and knees flexed; back flat; feet on table; shoulder abducted to 90 & elbow
flexed to 90
M: Externally rotate shoulder so dorsum of hand is flat on table
R: External rotation (Goniometry)
5. Shoulder Lateral Rotators (ER) (Teres minor, infraspinatus, posterior deltoid)
P: same as #4
M: internally rotate shoulder so palm of hand touches treatment table
R: Internal Rotation (Goniometry)
6. Pectoralis Minor
P: Supine with hips & knees flexed and feet and low back on table; BUE in anatomical position
M: observe anterior tipping of scapula – distance from posterior scapula to table
R: slight, moderate, or marked based on distance from the table
7. Biceps Brachii
P: sitting in straight back chair or supine with shoulder off edge of table
M: shoulder hyperextension, forearm pronation, elbow extension
R: elbow joint extension (Goniometry)
8. Triceps Brachii/Anconeus
P: supine or sitting with shoulder fully flexed
M: flex elbow while stabilizing shoulder in flexion
R: Elbow Joint Flexion (goniometry)
9. Flexor Carpi ulnaris, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Palmaris Longus
P: supine or sitting with elbow extended
M: extension of wrist with fingers and thumb relaxed
R: wrist joint extension (goniometry)
10. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus & Brevis, Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
P: Supine or sitting with elbow extended
M: flexion of wrist with fingers and thumb relaxed
R: wrist joint flexion (goniometry)
11. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
P: sitting or supine with elbow and wrist completely extended (hyperextended)
M: extension of MCP with elbow, wrist and IP’s extended
R: MCP joint extension (goniometry)
12. Extensor Digitorum & Extensor Digiti Minimi
P: sitting or supine with elbow extended and wrist & IP Joints Flexed
M: flexion of MCP with wrist flexed & elbow extended
R: MCP joint flexion (goniometry)
13. Iliopsoas, adductor longus, and pectineus
P: Supine with pelvis neutral & knees flexed over the edge of table
M: flex both knees to chest; lower one thigh to table with knee relaxed (Thomas Test)
R: Hip Joint Extension (goniometry)
14. Sartorius
P: same as #13
M: same as #13 but knee in extension; control for neutral hip rotation & abd/add; if lateral
rotation occurs with hip extension, Sartorius is shortened
R: Hip Joint extension (goniometry)
15. Tensor Fascia Latae/Iliotibial band
P: sidelying with test leg on top
M: knee joint flexed to 90 or completely extended; abduct and hyperextend the hip joint then
allow hip to adduct toward the table
R: Distance from table to medial border of knee (Tape measure)
16. Rectus Femoris
P: supine with test knee flexed over edge of table; non test leg flexed to protect low back
M: extend hip to table; if knee extends, rectus femoris is short
R: Knee joint flexion (goniometer) (from 80 degree start position)
17. Gluteus Maximus
P: supine with knee joints flexed & pelvis neutral; can also do short sitting position
M: flex hip towards pelvis without associated PPT
R: Hip flexion (goniometry); subtract from total hip ROM
18. Hamstrings (Biceps femoris (long head), Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus)
P: Supine with knee extended & low back flat; non test leg extended
M: Hip flexion with knee extended (SLR)
R: Hip Flexion (goniometry)
19. Biceps Femoris (short head) and Popliteus
P: prone with hips extended
M: extend the knee
R: Knee extension (goniometry)
20. Vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius
P: sidelying with test leg on top or supine with hip flexed to 90
M: flex the knee
R: knee joint flexion (goniometry)
21. Soleus
P: Supine or short sitting with knee flexed
M: Dorsiflex ankle with knee flexed
R: Ankle Dorsiflexion (goniometry)
22. Gastrocnemius/Plantaris
P: supine or sitting with knee joint extended
M: dorsiflex ankle with knee joint extended
R: Ankle dorsiflexion (goniometry)
23. Levator Scapula
P: sitting with shoulder abducted to upward rotate scapula
M: laterally flex head to opposite side of abducted shoulder
R: cervical lateral flexion (Tape measure/goniometry)
24. Sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, splenius capitis & cervicis
P: sitting with shoulder girdle in anatomical position
M: cervical lateral flexion while stabilizing shoulder girdle on opposite side
R: cervical lateral flexion (tape measure/goniometry)
25. Rectus abdominis, internal & external obliques, tranversus abdominus
P: prone with UE at side of trunk
M: trunk extension/hyperextension while BLE remain on table
R: trunk extension (tape measure)
26. Erector spinae & Quadratus Lumborum
P: long sitting with BLE supported on table
M: forward flex with knees extended reaching toward the toes
R: distance from fingertips to toes (tape measure/ruler)