What does a muscle strength grade of 3 indicate?

• A. Complete paralysis
• B. Slight muscle twitching
• C. Full contraction but cannot overcome gravity
• D. Can overcome gravity but not examiner

Answer: (D)

Muscle strength is rated on a standard scale that describes how well a muscle can move a limb. A grade that means you can move the limb through its full range against gravity, but you can’t resist external pressure, corresponds to being able to overcome gravity but not the examiner’s force.

So the best description is the one that says you can overcome gravity but not the examiner. This captures that you can lift or move the limb against gravity on your own, but you can’t hold or push back against external resistance.

Why the other statements don’t fit: complete paralysis means there’s no contraction or movement at all; slight muscle twitching indicates only a small, involuntary contraction without purposeful movement; a full contraction but cannot overcome gravity would not involve moving against gravity, which doesn’t align with this grade.