Introduction

Muscle strength is the ability of skeletal muscle to develop force in order to provide stability and mobility within the musculoskeletal system. Muscle strength is necessary for functional movement. Therefore, the muscle strength assessment is integral to the objective examination as it provides valuable information on strength and neurological deficits. This course introduces the muscle strength assessment and the principles and procedures required to develop competency in manual muscle testing.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• identify at least two types of muscle contractions and at least three factors that can affect muscle strength
• list at least two contraindications to muscle strength testing
• discuss at least two methods of muscle strength testing, the Medical Research Council Scale for grading manual muscle testing and optimal positions for muscle strength testing

Target audience

This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 2-2.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.8 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Wanda van Niekerk: No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.