Test-retest-reliability and validity of the Kinesiology muscle test.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the test-retest-reliability and validity of the Health Kinesiology muscle test.


METHODS
Seven patients with clinically and allergologically confirmed wasp venom allergy.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.
Lüdtke
R
R
Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Essen, Germany. r.luedtke@carstens-stiftung.de
Kunz
B
B
Seeber
N
N
Ring
J
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D018953:Kinesiology, Applied; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
D014862:Wasp Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E