Which movement is primarily tested in the deltoid MMT?

Which movement is primarily tested in the deltoid MMT?

• A. Wrist flexion
• B. Elbow extension
• C. Shoulder abduction
• D. Scapular retraction

Answer: (C)

The deltoid’s primary job is to lift the arm away from the body, i.e., shoulder abduction. In the deltoid MMT, you’re assessing the ability to abduct the arm at the shoulder, particularly the middle fibers responsible for the main abducting action from about 15 degrees up to 90 degrees. The supraspinatus handles the initial lift from 0 to roughly 15 degrees, so the deltoid test focuses on the portion of range after that. In practice, the patient is asked to abduct the arm to about 90 degrees, and you apply resistance to test strength of the abduction while stabilizing the scapula to prevent substitution by other muscles. The other movements listed—wrist flexion, elbow extension, and scapular retraction—do not reflect the deltoid’s primary action, which is shoulder abduction.

The deltoid’s primary job is to lift the arm away from the body, i.e., shoulder abduction. In the deltoid MMT, you’re assessing the ability to abduct the arm at the shoulder, particularly the middle fibers responsible for the main abducting action from about 15 degrees up to 90 degrees. The supraspinatus handles the initial lift from 0 to roughly 15 degrees, so the deltoid test focuses on the portion of range after that.

In practice, the patient is asked to abduct the arm to about 90 degrees, and you apply resistance to test strength of the abduction while stabilizing the scapula to prevent substitution by other muscles. The other movements listed—wrist flexion, elbow extension, and scapular retraction—do not reflect the deltoid’s primary action, which is shoulder abduction.