What does a strength scale rating of 4 indicate?

A strength scale rating of 4 indicates that there is mild weakness in the muscle strength being assessed. The grading scale for muscle strength typically ranges from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates no muscle contraction and 5 denotes normal strength.

A rating of 4 implies that the patient can actively move the muscle against some resistance, but not against full resistance. This means the individual has functional strength that is reduced compared to normal, but they are still able to perform many movements with some level of difficulty. As such, it captures a specific level of muscle performance that is identifiable in clinical evaluations. Recognizing this distinction is critical for clinicians to tailor rehabilitation therapies and understand the degree of impairment present.