Move over Manual Muscle Testing, EasyForce is in town!
- , by Markus Johnson
- 2 min reading time
This is a series of articles where we invite guests to write about relevant topics in rehabilitation and sports sciences
Written by Parker Gregory, OTR/L, CHT / Co-Owner, The Upper Hand LLC
When assessing someone's strength, MMT is a typical assessment of muscle
strength used by most doctors and therapists. There is often a suspected
muscle imbalance/weakness or even a neurologic disease when using this
method. Strength assessment is even more important during the rehabilitation
process to monitor a patient’s progress in therapy.
strength used by most doctors and therapists. There is often a suspected
muscle imbalance/weakness or even a neurologic disease when using this
method. Strength assessment is even more important during the rehabilitation
process to monitor a patient’s progress in therapy.
This (extremely subjective) manual testing method has been used for well over 100 years now.
It’s time for a new and better way. EasyForce have entered the chat.
Meloq’s EasyForce is a digital dynamometer that measures muscle force. This
once subjective strength assessment can now be quantified, meaning that we
can now put an exact number of force produced versus “an educated guess” via
the outdated and less specific MMT grading system. Besides the Peak Force,
EasyForce measures Average Force, Time-to-peak Force, and Time-under-tension.
So why does this matter? Let’s say for instance, a patient comes to the clinic to
be evaluated by a therapist. That therapist uses the MMT grading system that
utilizes a 0-5 grading scale. Most MMT grading scales would place someone
that can “hold against slight pressure” at a score of 3+. However, if someone
can “hold against slight to moderate pressure” it would upgrade to a score of 4-.
Clear as mud, right?! EasyForce takes the guess work out of manual muscle
testing by providing a specific numeric result in the form of #’s of force.
Furthermore, with insurance providers cutting costs left and right, they are more
likely to cut costs for someone who isn’t showing definitive progress. Being able
to objectively prove progress will undoubtedly improve the likelihood of
insurance reimbursement.
To take it one step further, when performing MMT on a patient, it is extremely
difficult for them to be able to differentiate between being able to tolerate slight
pressure vs moderate pressure. However, everyone can “see” the difference
between 10#’s of force and 15#’s of force. This provides a sense of instant
gratification to the patient and, in turn, helps the patient feel more involved in
their own recovery process.
difficult for them to be able to differentiate between being able to tolerate slight
pressure vs moderate pressure. However, everyone can “see” the difference
between 10#’s of force and 15#’s of force. This provides a sense of instant
gratification to the patient and, in turn, helps the patient feel more involved in
their own recovery process.
MMT is assessed daily in orthopedic clinics. Decrease subjectivity. Improve
accuracy. Show progress. Stay relevant. Evolve. Add an EasyForce Digital
Dynamometer to your arsenal today.