MUSCLE STRENGTH TESTING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A muscle strength testing method and apparatus allow an examiner to objectively evaluate the strength of a plurality of muscles of a patient. The apparatus includes an actuator member releasably connected to a controller device for supporting a weight thereon. The weight is either a patient entit y including at least a selected segment of the patient or an examiner entity including at least a part of the examiner supporting the segment. The segmen t corresponds to the specific muscle(s) to be tested. The controller successively measures a first and second forces applied by the weight on the actuator. Th e first and second forces correspond to the weight with the specific muscles) in a relaxed state and in an active state respectively. The active state induces a substantially vertical pressure on the segment. The controller calculates a difference between the first and second forces which is the strength of the specific muscle(s). The apparatus also allows the examiner to simultaneously subjectively evaluate the strength of the specific muscle(s) of the patient under test.