What type of testing involves assessing muscle strength and movement?

The assessment of muscle strength and movement is a significant component in many health and rehabilitation fields, particularly when determining a patient's ability to perform daily activities. Manual muscle strength testing is specifically designed for this purpose. It involves the practitioner using their hands to assess the strength of a muscle or muscle group by applying resistance while the patient contracts the muscle. This gives a clear indication of the muscle's strength capacity and any potential dysfunction.

In contrast, functional testing focuses more broadly on a person's ability to perform activities of daily living, rather than isolating specific muscles. Static stability testing evaluates a person's ability to maintain a position without movement, which doesn't directly assess muscle strength. Dynamic strength assessment can measure strength through movement but typically utilizes equipment or specific tasks rather than the manual resistance techniques used in manual muscle strength testing. Thus, manual muscle strength testing is the most direct and appropriate choice for assessing muscle strength and movement specifically.