Dylan Crake RMT & R.KIN

General Assessment

If muscle:

• Palpate origin and insertion
• Palpate along entire length of muscle
• Get them to contract to confirm that it is the correct muscle

If another structure:

• Name two landmarks while travelling to structure

Differential Muscle Assessment:

• Be sure to do all the actions of the muscle

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Differential Assessment

Central :

• Start with AROM with over pressure – state any findings and if the symptoms are from a central origin
• Perform RROM
• Palpate area and be aware of the 4 T’s ( texture, tenderness, temperature, tone)
• Perform joint play ( Test 1)
  • Perform another joint play assessment (ex. Spurling’s). Ask if local or radiates (Test 2)
    • If first two joint play tests are positive, perform one more joint play test (ex. distraction)
• Perform neural test 1 ( Ex. Dermatome)
  • Perform neural test 2 ( Ex. Myotome)
    • Perform neural test 3 ( Ex. Spurling’s, ULTT, Deep Tendon Reflex)
• If you believe it is a muscle issue, do a muscle test ( Ex. articular and neural tests are negative)

Communication: State the interpretation and check in throughout with the client!

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Peripheral :

• AROM plus over pressure of central origin ( Ex. neck or low back)
• Perform three central origin tests ( Ex. lower quad, Slump test, SLR, Dermatome, Myotome…)
• AROM plus over pressure of peripheral origin
• Palpation of peripheral origin ( 4 T’s ask and state, be sure to challenge tissue) (This can count as a peripheral origin test)
• If muscle issue, perform resistive test (This can count as a peripheral origin test)

Communication: State interpretation and check in throughout with the client!