What is the recommended order of testing muscle groups during MMT?

• A. Start with larger, proximal muscles, then progress to distal muscles; test bilaterally for comparison
• B. Start with distal muscles and move to proximal muscles
• C. Test bilaterally only for the weak side
• D. Random order

Answer: (A)

In testing muscle strength, start with larger, proximal muscle groups and work toward the smaller, distal muscles, and compare both limbs. This order gives you a stable baseline with the strongest, easiest-to-test muscles first, which helps you establish proper technique and stabilization before moving to the more fine, fatigue-prone distal muscles. Testing both sides allows immediate symmetry checks, so you can see if one limb is weaker than the other and interpret results accurately rather than relying on a single-side comparison. If you started with distal muscles, fatigue or compensations could cloud the results of proximal tests, and skipping bilateral comparison can miss important side-to-side differences. A random order lacks the structured progression that supports reliable, repeatable measurements.