An OT practitioner is screening a client's wrist extension strength. The client is able to actively extend the wrist partially against gravity. Because of a joint limitation, the client's forearm can-not be placed in neutral rotation. What is the appropriate muscle grade?

Question

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3

Answer 1

ANS: C
In this situation the therapist must use clinical judgment and modify the grading. Even though testing could not be done in the gravity-minimized plane, partial motion against gravity would be graded as 2. Grades 0 and 1 are not appropriate because the client has more than a trace contrac-tion. Grade 3 is not appropriate because the client could not move through complete motion against gravity.