Manual Muscle Testing of the Lumbar & Thoracic Spine

Lumbar Extension	Patient lies prone with hands clasped behind head.  Examiner stands so as to stabilize the lower extremities just above the ankles if the patient has normal hip strength.  Patient extends lumbar spine until thorax is raised above table level.
Thoracic Extension	The patient lies prone with head and upper trunk extending off the table from about the nipple line. The examiner stands so that he can stabilize the lower limbs at the ankles. The patient then extends thoracic spine to the horizontal.
Trunk Flexion	The patient lies supine with hands clasped behind head. Examiner stands at the side of the table level with the patient's chest, so he can determine if patient's scapulae clear the table. The patient flexes trunk through range of motion.
Trunk Rotation	Patient is supine with hands clasped behind head. The examiner stands at patient's waist level. Patient flexes trunk and rotates to one side.

Pelvic Elevation

Patient is supine with hip and lumbar spine in extension. Patient grasps edge of table for stabilization during resistance. The examiner stands at foot of table facing the patient. Examiner grasps test limb with both hands and pulls evenly and smoothly. The patient hikes that pelvis, approximating the pelvic rim to the inferior margin of the rib cage.

Adapted from:

Hislop, Helen J. & Montgomery, Jaqueline with contributor Barbara Connelly.

      Daniels and Worthingham's muscle testing: techniques of manual examination., 6th edition, 1995.