Test-retest-reliability and validity of the kinesiology muscle test

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. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.