Cross-Crawl Pattern

Muscle testing is compared to reflexes such as the patellar reflex. When the pattern matches cross-crawl mechanics, the brain facilitates the tested muscle and produces a lock. Moving the left leg forward while testing the right arm is described as matching cross-crawl mechanics. Moving the right leg forward while testing the right arm is described as producing an unlock. The right-leg-forward pattern is said to trigger inhibition because it does not match the walking pattern for the tested arm.