Assessment of motor function

Motor system
• Inspection
– Muscles: normal, atrophy, hypertrophy
– Abnormal movements, postures
• Tone: by passive movement

• Power: by active movement, against

resistance
• Reflexes: upper limb, lower limb
 Tone
• Checked when patient is completely
relaxed. Passive movements at different
speeds
• Normal tone
• Hypertonia
• Hypotonia
 Power
• Grade according to MRC
• 5 Normal
• 4 Movement against resistance
• 3 Movement against gravity, but not
resistance
• 2 Movement with gravity eliminated
• 1 Flicker
• 0 No movement
 Reflexes
• Knee jerk
• Ankle jerk
• Biceps jerk
• Triceps jerk
This was a flexing of the big toe which may be
accompanied by the fanning of the other toes
when the lateral border of the sole of the foot is
stroked.