Commonly Tested Movements

Table 1. Commonly tested movements in the upper limb.
Movement	UMN*	Root	Reflex	Nerve	Muscle
Shoulder abduction	++	C5		Axillary	Deltoid
Elbow flexion		C5, C6	+	Musculocutaneous	Biceps
		C6	+	Radial	Brachioradialis
Elbow extension	+	C7	+	Radial	Triceps
Radial wrist extension	+	C6		Radial	Extensor carpi radialis longus
Finger extension	+	C7		Posterior interosseous	Extensor digitorum communis
Finger flexion		C8	+	Anterior interosseous	Flexor pollicis longus + Flexor digitorum profundus (index)
				Ulnar	Flexor digitorum profundus (ring + little)
				Median	All other flexors
Finger abduction	++	T1		Ulnar	First dorsal interosseous
				Median	Abductor pollicis brevis

Table 2. Commonly tested movements in the lower limb.
Movement	UMN*	Root	Reflex	Nerve	Muscle
Hip flexion	++	L1, L2			Iliopsoas
Hip adduction		L2, L3	+	Obturator	Adductors
Hip extension		L5, S1		Sciatic	Gluteus maximus
Knee flexion	+	S1		Sciatic	Hamstrings
Knee extension		L3, L4	+	Femoral	Quadriceps
Ankle dorsiflexion	++	L4		Deep fibular	Tibialis anterior
Ankle eversion		L5, S1		Superficial fibular	Fibulares
Ankle plantarflexion		S1, S2	+	Tibial	Gastrocnemius, soleus
Ankle inversion		L4, L5		Tibial	Tibialis posterior
Big toe extension		L5	Babinski	Deep fibular	Extensor hallucis longus