J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1990 Feb; 13(2): 72-82.

Reliability of manual muscle testing with a computerized dynamometer.

Hsieh CY, Phillips RB.

Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, CA 90609.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of manual dynamometry. Three testers participated and performed the doctor- and patient-initiated testing methods as described in the applied kinesiology literature. Three muscles from each subject were tested. Fifteen normal volunteer adults had their muscles tested by the doctor-initiated method and another 15 had their muscles tested by the patient-initiated method. Each tester took two observations per muscle. The testing procedures were repeated 7 days later. The results showed that the intratester reliability coefficients were 0.55, 0.75 and 0.76 for testers 1, 2 and 3, respectively, when the doctor-initiated method was used; 0.96, 0.99 and 0.97 when the patient-initiated method was used. The intertester reliability coefficients were 0.77 and 0.59 on day 1 and day 2, respectively, for the doctor-initiated method; 0.95 and 0.96 for the patient-initiated method. It is concluded that manual dynamometry is an acceptable procedure for the patient-initiated method and is not acceptable for the doctor-initiated method.