What does manual muscle testing (MMT) primarily evaluate?

Manual muscle testing (MMT) primarily focuses on evaluating specific muscles or muscle groups by assessing their strength and functionality. This technique typically involves a physical therapist or healthcare professional applying resistance to a muscle while the patient attempts to contract it. The strength of the contraction is then classified on a scale that reflects the muscle's ability to generate force against this resistance.

The primary purpose of MMT is to identify muscle weakness, imbalances, or dysfunctions, which can provide insight into potential injury risks or rehabilitation needs. This targeted assessment allows practitioners to design specific intervention strategies that enhance muscle strength in the identified areas, contributing to better overall movement mechanics and injury prevention.

In contrast, assessing endurance and stamina would involve different tests that focus on how long a muscle can sustain activity, and overall joint mobility evaluates the range of motion around a joint rather than muscle strength. Cardiovascular endurance is specifically related to the efficiency of the heart and lungs during physical activity, which falls outside the scope of MMT.