Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which muscle grading indicates no movement?

1. Grade 1

2. Grade 2

3. Grade 0

4. Grade 4

The correct answer is: Grade 0

The grading of muscle strength is utilized to assess a patient's ability to move a muscle or a group of muscles. In this context, a grade of 0 specifically indicates no muscle contraction or movement. This means that the muscle is unable to perform any action, signifying complete paralysis or absence of voluntary movement in that particular muscle group. In contrast, other grades denote varying levels of muscle strength and movement. A grade of 1 indicates a flicker of contraction without movement, while grade 2 represents the ability to move the muscle or limb through a complete range of motion with gravity eliminated. A grade of 4 suggests that the patient can move against some resistance but still has a notable weakness present. Thus, understanding that grade 0 signifies total absence of movement is essential for accurately assessing muscle function in a critical care setting.