Test-retest-reliability and validity of the Kinesiology muscle test
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Updated: Sep 16, 2026
Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients
Published on: April 12, 2011
1Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany. r.luedtke@carstens-stiftung.de
Objectives:
To assess the test-retest-reliability and validity of the Health Kinesiology muscle test.
Patients:
Seven patients with clinically and allergologically confirmed wasp venom allergy.
Design:
Four Health Kinesiology-examiners tested each patient in a random order for 10 verum and 10 placebo bottles. All examiners used the anterior deltoid as indicator muscle. Patients and examiners were completely blinded.
Outcome Measures:
Weak muscle holds were rated as 'sensitivity' towards the test substance, stable holding as normal (not sensitive).
Results:
An overall kappa of 0.03 (95%-CI: -0.02-0.07) indicates the test is not reliable. Individual kappas do not substantially vary from examiner to examiner. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated at 40% and 60%.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that the use of Health Kinesiology as a diagnostic tool is not more useful than random guessing. This should at least be true in patients with insect venom allergy that are tested by examiners with average skills.
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