Diagnostic Muscle Testing

 

Diagnostic muscle testing is a technique that can be used to identify dysfunctional spinal segments, or subluxations.  Subluxations are spinal segments and their surrounding tissues that are swollen, warm to the touch, have decreased segmental range of motion, tenderness,

and a loss of function of the tissue innervated by the nerve exiting the spinal cord at that level.  Muscle testing identifies the loss of function in a muscle and the doctor of chiropractic is trained to know the area of the spine from which that muscle receives its nerve supply.  Through palpation of the corresponding area of the  spine and  identifying the segment that has the swelling, heat,     tenderness,   and   decreased    range   of

motion, the exact spinal segment can be isolated and subsequently adjusted to allow the body to heal itself.  The doctor can then return to the weak muscle and retest to verify that the appropriate level of the spine was adjusted and demonstrate to the patient that a positive change has occurred. 

 

For example, most people have a triceps muscle on the back of each upper arm.  The relative strength of those two muscles can be compared to determine if they have relative equal resistance.  If a weakness is found one either muscle, the 5^th cervical through the second thoracic vertebra would be palpated to determine the exact location of the subluxation, most commonly the first thoracic.  The identified segment would then be adjusted and the muscle retested to verify a positive response.