Grading Abdominal Strength

ADutler

1 Posts
 
Posted - 03/24/2006 :  08:48:05  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Does anyone know another good objective way to grade abdominal strength? Currently using Kendall's.

Rehab Guy

4 Posts
 
Posted - 03/25/2006 :  16:26:27  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Here is what we use at our clinic. It is a modification of Kendall's and our own system.

Upper AbdominalStrength Grades
#Grades Grades Requirements
5 Normal Arm behind head x 10 reps
4+ Good + Arm across chest x 10 reps
4 Good Arm across chest x 5 reps
4- Good - Arm across chest x 1 reps
3+ Fair + Arms extended out in front x 10
3 Fair Arms extended out in front x 5
3- Fair - Arms extended out in front x 1
2+ Poor + Arms Able to lift head and clear scapulae x 10
2 Poor Able to lift head and clear scpulae x 5
2- Poor - Able to lift head and clear scpulae x 1
1 Trace Able to lift head only
0 Zero No contraction

Lower Abdominal Strength Grades
- pelvic tilt or neutral spine needs to be maintained throughout ex.
- patient should not hold breath
- patient shouldn't be pushing with their contralateral leg

#Grades Grades Requirements
5 Normal Pelvic tilt & lower legs 45°-30°-15°-0°
4+ Good + Pelvic tilt & lower an extended leg 0°4 Good Pelvic tilt & lower an extended leg 15°
4- Good - Pelvic tilt & lower an extended leg 30°
3+ Fair + Pelvic tilt & extend leg x 10
3 Fair Pelvic tilt & extend leg x 5
3- Fair - Pelvic tilt & extend leg x 1
2+ Poor + Pelvic tilt x 10
2 Poor Pelvic tilt x 5
2- Poor - Pelvic tilt x 1
1 Trace Unable to perform pelvic tilt
0 Zero No contraction

Lumbar Stabilization Strength Grades
- Good test for most patients
- not accurate test for patients with positive Trendelenburg, severe OA, or ankylosed spines where the lumbar spine has minimial motion or extensive fusions in lumbar spine

#Grades Grades Requirements
5 Normal Maitain neutral spine with 10 mini squats B legs
4 Good Maitain neutral spine with 5 mini squats B legs
3 Fair Maitain neutral spine with 1 mini squats B legs
2 Poor Unable to maintain neutral spine standing on one leg

Hope this helps!