Hoggan Scientific�MicroFET2

Muscle Test Dynamometer

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The MicroFET2 is a wireless handheld dynamometer that is an objective, accurate, portable Force Evaluation and Testing (FET) device providing quantifiable muscle test measurements.

• A technological application of the time-tested art of hands-on manual muscle testing (MMT)
• Aiding in the diagnosis, progress assessment, and treatment of neuromuscular conditions

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When conducting a muscle strength test . . .

To better “isolate” the muscle or muscle group to be tested . . .

"Stabilize the proximal bone" of the joint that the muscle group being tested crosses and acts upon.

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To apply the resistance with better control . . .

With the MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer, “apply a 90-degree angle of resistance against the distal distal end of the distal bone” of the joint that the contracting muscle(s) are pulling on.

This ensures that 100% of your resistive force goes toward controlling or resisting the force being generated by the subject’s muscle contraction, and a greater resistive force arm for mechanical advantage in conducting the test.

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Example of the Principles of Muscle Testing

1. Quadriceps - the muscle group being tested.
2. Because the quadriceps muscle group crosses the knee joint to insert on the tibia (distal bone of the knee joint) the proximal bone of the knee joint (femur) must be stabilized. In this example the weight of the body pressing down onto the chair stabilizes the thigh (femur).
3. With the MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer, apply resistance to the distal end of the tibia (distal bone of the knee joint) and at a 90-degree angle to the tibia.

Other Important Muscle Testing Strategy when Performing Handheld Dynamometry

1. Ensure that there is a force-counterforce application when conducting most muscle tests. This may come in the form of:

• the subject holding on to the chair or table in which they are positioned
• The examiner holding onto the table to brace him/herself in providing the resistance

2. Most subject positions will resist the joint movement in a gravity eliminated position.

3. When conducting a test, instruct the subject to take 1-2 seconds to build to maximum effort and then continue pushing as hard as possible (provide intense encouragement) until instructed to release force.

Testing Muscle Groups of the Upper Extremity

Joint/Articulation: Scapulothoracic

Muscle Group Tested: Protractors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Serratus Anterior (Long Thoracic)
• Pectoralis Minor (Medial Pectoral)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Scapula Position: Protracted

Dynamometer Placement: On top of fist

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Joint/Articulation: Scapulothoracic

Muscle Group Tested: Retractors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Rhomboids (Dorsal Scapular)
• Middle Trapezius (Spinal Accessory)

Subject Positioning: Prone

Scapular Position: Retracted

Dynamometer Placement: Back of shoulder area, over posterolateral scapula

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Joint/Articulation: Scapulothoracic

Muscle Group Tested: Elevators

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Levator Scapula (Dorsal Scapular)
• Upper Trapezius (Spinal Accessory)

Subject Positioning: Sitting

Scapular Position: Elevated

Dynamometer Placement: Top of shoulder, over acromion

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Joint/Articulation: Scapulothoracic

Muscle Group Tested: Depressors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Pectoralis Minor (Dorsal Scapular)
• Lower Trapezius (Spinal Accessory)

Subject Positioning: Sitting

Scapular Position: Depressed

Dynamometer Placement: On bottom of fist

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: Flexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Anterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Pectoralis Major – Clavicular Head (Spinal Accessory)
• Coracobrachialis (Musculocutaneous)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Flexed 90-degrees

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior humerus/arm

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: Extensors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Posterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Latissimus Dorsi (Thoracodorsal )
• Teres Major (Lower Subscapular)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Shoulder Flexed 90-degrees

Dynamometer Placement: Distal posterior humerus/arm

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: Abductors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Anterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Middle Deltoid (Axillary )
• Posterior Deltoid (Axillary)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Abducted 45-degrees

Dynamometer Placement: Distal lateral humerus/arm

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: Internal Rotators

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Anterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Pectoralis Major (Med. & Lat. Pectoral)
• Subscapularis (Upper & Lower Subscapular)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Abducted 45-degrees (elbow flexed 90-degrees)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior forearm

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: External Rotators

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Posterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Infraspinatus (Suprascapular)
• Teres Minor (Axillary)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Abducted 45-degrees (elbow flexed 90-degrees)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal posterior forearm

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Joint/Articulation: Shoulder

Muscle Group Tested: Horz. Adductors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Pectoralis Major (Med. & Lat. Pectoral)
• Anterior Deltoid (Axillary)
• Coracobrachialis (Musculocutaneous)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Shoulder Position: Flexed 90-degrees & internally rotated 90-degrees (elbow flexed 90-degrees)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior humerus/arm

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Joint/Articulation: Elbow

Muscle Group Tested: Flexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Biceps Brachii (Musculocutaneous)
• Brachialis (Musculocutaneous)
• Brachioradialis (Radial)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Elbow Position: Flexed 90-degrees (forearm fully supinated)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior forearm

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Joint/Articulation: Elbow

Muscle Group Tested: Extensors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Triceps Brachii (Radial)

Subject Positioning: Prone

Elbow Position: Flexed 90-degrees (forearm in neutral position)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal lateral forearm

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Joint/Articulation: Forearm

Muscle Group Tested: Supinators

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Supinator (Radial)
• Biceps Brachii (Musculocutaneous)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Elbow & Forearm Positions: Elbow flexed 90-degrees, forearm in neutral position, handing holding a dowel

Dynamometer Placement: Against lateral side of dowel, 20cm from hand

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Joint/Articulation: Forearm

Muscle Group Tested: Pronators

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Pronator Teres (Median)
• Pronator Quadratus (Median)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Elbow & Forearm Positions: Elbow flexed 90-degrees, forearm in neutral position, handing holding a dowel

Dynamometer Placement: Against medial side of dowel, 20cm from hand

Joint/Articulation: Wrist

Muscle Group Tested: Flexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Flexor Carpi Radialis (Median)
• Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (Ulnar)
• Palmaris Longus (Median)

Subject Positioning: Sitting with forearm on table

Elbow & Wrist Position: Elbow flexed 90-degrees, palm up, wrist slightly flexed, fingers fully flexed/fist

Dynamometer Placement: On top of fist

Joint/Articulation: Wrist

Muscle Group Tested: Extensors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus (Radial)
• Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (Radial)
• Extensor Carpi Ulnaris (Radia)

Subject Positioning: Sitting with forearm on table, wrist over edge of table

Elbow & Wrist Position: Elbow flexed 90-degrees, palm down, wrist slightly extended, fingers fully flexed/fist

Dynamometer Placement: Over dorsal metacarpals of hand

Testing Muscle Groups of the Lower Extremity

Joint/Articulation: Hip

Muscle Group Tested: Flexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Iliacus (Femoral)
• Psoas Major (Anterior Rami L1-L3)
• Rectus Femoris (Femoral)

Subject Positioning: Supine “or” Sitting

Hip & Knee Positions: Hip flexed 90-degrees, knee flexed 90-degrees

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior femur/thigh, just over knee

Joint/Articulation: Hip

Muscle Group Tested: Extensors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Gluteus Maximus (Inferior Gluteal)
• Gluteus Medius – Post. Fibers (Superior Gluteal)

Subject Positioning: Prone

Hip & Knee Positions: Hip anatomical neutral, knee flexed 90-degrees (focuses on gluteals)

• Optional protocol lower photo (focuses on hams)

Dynamometer Placement: Distal posterior femur/thigh, just proximal to knee joint

Joint/Articulation: Hip

Muscle Group Tested: Abductors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Gluteus Medius (Superior Gluteal)
• Gluteus Minimus (Superior Gluteal)
• Tensor Fascia Latae (Superior Gluteal)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Hip Position: Hip anatomical neutral, knee extended

Dynamometer Placement: Distal lateral femur/thigh, just proximal to knee joint

Joint/Articulation: Hip

Muscle Group Tested: Adductors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Adductor Magnus (Obturator, Sciatic-Tibial Div.)
• Adductor Longus (Obturator)
• Adductor Brevis (Obturator)

Subject Positioning: Supine

Hip Position: Hip anatomical neutral, knee extended

Dynamometer Placement: Distal medial femur/thigh, just proximal to knee joint

Joint/Articulation: Knee

Muscle Group Tested: Flexors (Hamstrings)

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Biceps Femoris (Sciatic-Tibial & Com. Peroneal Div)
• Semitendinosus (Sciatic-Tibial Div)
• Semimembranosus (Sciatic-Tibial Div)

Subject Positioning: Sitting

Hip & Knee Positions: Hip flexed 90-degrees, knee flexed 90-degrees

Dynamometer Placement: Distal posterior tibia/lower leg, over Achilles tendon

Joint/Articulation: Knee

Muscle Group Tested: Extensors (Quadriceps)

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Rectus Femoris (Femoral)
• Vastus Medialis (Femoral)
• Vastus Lateralis (Femoral)
• Vastus Intermedius (Femoral)

Subject Positioning: Sitting

Hip & Knee Positions: Hip flexed 90-degrees, knee flexed 90-degrees

• Optional protocol lower photo – practitioner strength unable to provide sufficient force

Dynamometer Placement: Distal anterior tibia/lower leg

Joint/Articulation: Ankle

Muscle Group Tested: Plantarflexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Gastrocnemius (Tibial)
• Soleus (Tibial)

Subject Positioning:

• Top: To isolate the gastrocnemius: Long sit, knee in full extension, ankle in anatomical position
• Lower: To isolate the soleus: Prone, knee flexed 90-degrees, ankle in anatomical position

Dynamometer Placement: Both A and B: Plantar surface of foot, over metatarsophalangeal joints

Joint/Articulation: Ankle

Muscle Group Tested: Dorsiflexors

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Tibialis Anterior (Deep Peroneal)

Subject Positioning: Long sit

Knee & Ankle Positions: Knee extended, ankle in anatomical position

Dynamometer Placement: Dorsal surface of foot, over metatarsal bones

Joint/Articulation: Foot (subtalar)

Muscle Group Tested: Everters

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Peroneus/Fibularis Longus (Superficial Peroneal)
• Peroneus/Fibularis Brevis (Superficial Peroneal)
• Peroneus/Fibularis Tertius (Deep Peroneal)

Subject Positioning: Side lying, top leg knee extended with foot extending over edge of table (bottom leg in partial hip and knee flexion – for balance)

Dynamometer Placement: Over middle-third of lateral foot

Joint/Articulation: Foot (subtalar)

Muscle Group Tested: Inverters

Primary Muscles Tested (Nerve Innervation):

• Tibialis Posterior (Tibial)

Subject Positioning: Side lying, bottom leg knee extended with foot extending over edge of table (upper leg in partial hip and knee flexion – to not interfere with bottom leg)

Dynamometer Placement: Over middle-third of medial foot