Date of Award

1993

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Henry C. Wessman

Keywords

Muscles -- physiology; Muscles -- physiopathology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of force produced by the left serratus anterior muscle when using two methods of muscle testing. Thirty subjects (5 men, 25 women) participated in this study. A manual muscle test was performed with each subject properly positioned for testing a good to normal muscle grade using the Daniels and Worthingham and Kendall and McCreary methods of muscle testing. A practice test of each method was performed and a rest period of one and a half minutes was allowed between tests. A hand-held dynamometer, the Dynatron II, measured objective data. Strength was recorded in pounds of force. Results reveal a significant difference in force produced by the left serratus anterior muscle when using two methods of muscle testing. The Daniels and Worthingham method of muscle testing revealed a larger production of force with a mean value of 41.37 pounds of force. The mean value of force produced with the Kendall and McCreary method of muscle testing was 27.39 pounds of force. This is statistically significant at the .0001 criterion level. There is, however, a strong positive correlation between the two methods of muscle testing.

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