In MMT for scapular adduction in anti-gravity, what is the test position?

In MMT for scapular adduction in anti-gravity, what is the test position?

• A. Prone with shoulder abducted to 90, elbow flexed to 90, forearm hanging off table
• B. Supine with arm at side
• C. Standing with arm abducted 60
• D. Prone with arm extended overhead

Answer: (A)

The moving part being tested is scapular adduction (retraction), which mainly uses the middle trapezius and rhomboids. To challenge these muscles against gravity and isolate them, the person is placed prone with the arm positioned to put the scapula in a retracting line of pull: the shoulder is abducted to 90 degrees, the elbow is flexed to 90 degrees, and the forearm hangs off the edge of the table. In this setup, the scapula must retract toward the spine to hold the position as gravity pulls the arm downward, and you apply resistance to the scapula’s medial border to increase the demand on those retractors. This position minimizes contribution from muscles that promote protraction or different scapular movements, giving a clean test of adduction strength. The other positions don’t fit anti-gravity scapular adduction. Lying supine with the arm at the side removes the gravity load on the scapular retractors. Standing with the arm abducted only 60 degrees doesn’t place the scapula in the retracting line of pull and isn’t ideal for isolating the middle trapezius/rhomboids. Prone with the arm extended overhead shifts the movement toward different scapular actions (like upward rotation or depression) and tests other muscles rather than pure adduction.

The moving part being tested is scapular adduction (retraction), which mainly uses the middle trapezius and rhomboids. To challenge these muscles against gravity and isolate them, the person is placed prone with the arm positioned to put the scapula in a retracting line of pull: the shoulder is abducted to 90 degrees, the elbow is flexed to 90 degrees, and the forearm hangs off the edge of the table. In this setup, the scapula must retract toward the spine to hold the position as gravity pulls the arm downward, and you apply resistance to the scapula’s medial border to increase the demand on those retractors. This position minimizes contribution from muscles that promote protraction or different scapular movements, giving a clean test of adduction strength.

The other positions don’t fit anti-gravity scapular adduction. Lying supine with the arm at the side removes the gravity load on the scapular retractors. Standing with the arm abducted only 60 degrees doesn’t place the scapula in the retracting line of pull and isn’t ideal for isolating the middle trapezius/rhomboids. Prone with the arm extended overhead shifts the movement toward different scapular actions (like upward rotation or depression) and tests other muscles rather than pure adduction.