Muscle Testing and Janda

[Guest guest]

Since many therapists rely on muscle tests devised by Janda, the following

letter from the BIOMCH-L list may be of interest while we are on the topic of

muscle testing in general.

<http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-l/archives/biomch-l-2000-10/00079.html>

Janda Test?

16 Oct 2000

I assume that the authors are talking about Vladimir Janda's method for

assessing muscle length (one of those tests is the Modified Test). Dr.

Janda is a Czech medical doctor who has over the years asserted that much

musculoskeletal pain is from, in part, a chronic shortening of certain

muscles which cause alterations in normal muscle activation patterns.(1-6)

The muscles prone to this shortening are:

Gastrocsoleus

Tibialis posterior

Hamstrings

Iliopsoas

Tensor fascial lata

Rectus femoris

Short hip adductors

Sartorius

Piriformis

Lumbar Erector Spinae

Quadratus Lumborum

Pectoralis Major

Upper Trapezius

Levator scapula

Scalenes

Sternocleidomastoid

Flexors of upper limb

Although I have most of what Janda has published in English there is

supposedly much more published in Czech and German. However, I am unaware of

any RCTs that have evaluated the effectiveness of his treatment approach even

though it has become accepted by many members of the chiropractic and

physical medicine professions. I am not aware of any studies that have

investigated the and psychometric properties of these tests. ......

If my assumption is correct, Janda takes a muscle to its end range and

assesses the end-feel (i.e., the springiness of the muscle when one pushes it

into the barrier of its motion). A hard end-feel would allow for a

presumptive diagnosis of chronic muscle shortening. Janda then describes a

method treatment that has been termed Post-Facilitation Stretching (PFS). PFS

stretching is accomplished by having the patient contract the muscle in

question against resistence with a maximum effort for about 10 sec. Then the

muscle is stretched ballistically and held in the new stretch position for 10

sec. This process is repeated a few times per treatment session. Such

treatment in my experience often results is an obvious change in the end-feel

and an sustainable increase in range of motion. More information concerning

Janda's work can be obtained from OPTP.com. Also in a texts by Liebenson(7)

and Hammer(8)

1. Janda V. Muscles as a pathogenic factor in back pain. IFOMT Conference.

Christchurch, New Zealand, 1980:1-20.

2. Janda V. The relationship of hip joint musculature to the pathogenesis of

low back pain. International Conference on Manipulative Therapy. Perth

Western Australia, 1983:28-31.

3. Janda V. Rational Therapeutic approach of chronic back pain syndromes.

Symposium chronic back pain, rehabilitation and self help. Turku, Finland,

1985:69-74.

4. Janda V. Pain in the locomotor system - A broad approach. In: Glasgow EF,

Twomey LT, Scull ER, Kleynhans AM, Idczak RM, eds. Aspects of Manipulative

Therapy. 2nd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1985:148-51.

5. Janda V. Muscle weakness and inhibition (pseudoparesis) in back pain

syndromes. In: Grieve GP, ed. Modern Manual Therapy of the Vertebral Column.

New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1986:197-201.

6. Jull GA, Janda V. Muscles and motor control in low back pain: Assessment

and management. In: Twomey LT, JR, eds. Physical therapy of the low

back. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1987:253-78.

7. Liebenson C, ed. Rehabilitation of the spine: A practitioner's manual.

Baltimore: & Wilkins, 1996.

8. Hammer WI, ed. Functional Soft Tissue Examination and Treatment by Manual

Methods: The Extremities. 2nd ed. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers, Inc,,

1999. (Hammer WI, ed.)

M. Perle, D.C

Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences

University of Bridgeport

College of Chiropractic Bridgeport, CT

http://www.bridgeport.edu/chiro/