Motor System Examination

Flexors of Fingers

Ask the patient to make a fist, squeezing their hand around two of your fingers. If the grip is normal, you will not be able to pull your fingers out. Test each hand separately.

Extensors of Fingers

Ask the patient to open their fist against resistance.

Extensors of the Wrist

Ask the patient to grip something firmly in their hands. Paralysis of the extensors of the wrist leads to wrist drop so that can be checked for.

Brachioradialis

Ask the patient to flex their elbow against resistance while their arm is midway between supination and pronation.

Biceps

Ask the patient to flex their elbow against resistance while the arm is fully supinated.

Triceps

Ask the patient to straighten the flexed forearm against resistance.

Supraspinatus and Deltoid

Ask the patient to abduct the arm against resistance; the first 30Ëš of abduction is carried out by supraspinatus and the next 60Ëš by the deltoid.

Serratus Anterior

Ask the patient to push against the wall; if serratus anterior is paralyzed, there is winging of the scapula. The patient would also be unable to elevate their arm above the right angle.

Pectorals

Ask the patient to stretch out their arms in front of them and then clasp their hands together against resistance.

Dorsiflexion of the Toes

Ask the patient to move the toes upwards against resistance.

Dorsiflexion of the Foot

Ask the patient to move their foot upwards against resistance.

Plantar Flexion of the Toes

Ask the patient to move their toes downwards against resistance.

Plantar Flexion of the Foot

Ask the patient to move their foot downwards against resistance.

Extensors of the Knee

Bend the patient’s knee and ask the patient to straighten it against resistance.

Flexors of the Knee

Raise the patient’s leg up from the bed. Support their thigh with your left hand and hold their ankle with your right hand. Then ask the patient to bend their knee against resistance.

Extensors of the Hip

Place your right hand on the Achilles tendon. Lift the patient’s leg up while their knee is fully extended and ask the patient to push it down against resistance.

Flexors of the Hip

Place your right hand on the patient’s knee. Ask the patient to bend their leg at the hip against resistance.

Adductors of the Thigh

Place your right hand on the medial side of the patient’s leg. Ask the patient to bring abducted limbs toward their midline against resistance.

Abductors of the Thigh

Place your right hand on the lateral side of the patient’s leg. Place the patient’s legs together and ask them to separate them against resistance.

It should be made sure that both sides are tested, and a comparison of strengths is made. A comparison of strength can also be made when comparing the upper and lower limbs or when comparing proximal and distal muscle groups.