Many clinicians doing manual muscle test may mistake motor pattern inhibition for true weakness. How do you tell the difference? If someone tests weak, try applying very light resistance and slowly increase. If the pattern/muscle test significantly increases as you gradually increase resistance, the muscles are not weak, the pattern is inhibited.
Weakness and Inhibition
Many clinicians doing manual muscle test may mistake motor pattern inhibition for true weakness. How do you tell the difference? If someone tests weak, try applying very light resistance and slowly increase. If the pattern/muscle test significantly increases as you gradually increase resistance, the muscles are not weak, the pattern is inhibited.