Disentangling manual muscle testing and Applied Kinesiology: critique and reinterpretation of a literature review

The article presents the history of one of the relatively new areas in medicine - applied kinesiology, which is actively developing in the United States, West Europe and is popularized and actively implemented in Ukraine. The authors present the basic principles of kinesiological influence, concepts and statements underlying applied kinesiology. Considerable attention is paid to the characteristics of the main diagnostic method of applied kinesiology, which is manual muscle testing (MMT). The uniqueness of this diagnostic method, which can help in the diagnosis of neuro-musculoskeletal dysfunction before the signs of chronicity of such processes, has been stated in the article. It is noted that MMT is a very important diagnostic tool, which is increasingly being used in combination with other clinical research ethods. The article emphasizes the constantly growing interest in the methods of applied kinesiology in Ukraine. Conclusions are made about the possibility and necessity of integrating the course on the basics of Professional Applied Kinesiology into educational programs of higher education institutions in the field of "Health Care" (III-IV level of accreditation) which will increase the level of training of medical professionals, allow the implementation of these methods in clinical practice and significantly improve preventive and diagnostic processes.

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Interexaminer Agreement for Applied Kinesiology Manual Muscle Testing

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1997.84.2.539 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. 539-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Arden Lawson ◽

Lawrence Calderon

Keyword(s):

Fascia Lata ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Tensor Fascia Lata ◽

Applied Kinesiology ◽

Testing Procedures ◽

Significant Agreement ◽

Muscle Testing ◽

Interexaminer Reliability ◽

Pectoralis Muscles ◽

Manual Testing

Two trials of the interexaminer reliability of Applied Kinesiology manual testing were conducted. On the first trial three clinicians, each with greater than ten years of experience with muscle testing procedures, tested 32 healthy individuals to estimate their agreement on the strength or weakness of right and left piriformis and right and left hamstring muscles. Significant agreement between examiners was found for piriformis muscles, but little significant agreement was noted when hamstrings were tested. In a second study, the same three examiners tested 53 subjects for strength or weakness of the pectoralis and tensor fascia lata muscles bilaterally. Significant interjudge agreement was found for pectoralis muscles, but no significant concordance could be found when the tensor fascia lata was examined.

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Quick Reference: Chapter 3: The Musculoskeletal System and Chapter 4: The Nervous System

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2000.mayjun03 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 4-4

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Musculoskeletal System ◽

Multistep Method ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Motor Deficits ◽

Lower Extremity Weakness ◽

Residual Symptoms ◽

Muscle Testing ◽

Almost All

Abstract Lesions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), whether due to injury or illness, commonly result in residual symptoms and signs and, hence, permanent impairment. The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Fourth Edition, divides PNS deficits into sensory and motor and includes pain in the former. This article, which regards rating sensory and motor deficits of the lower extremities, is continued from the March/April 2000 issue of The Guides Newsletter. Procedures for rating extremity neural deficits are described in Chapter 3, The Musculoskeletal System, section 3.1k for the upper extremity and sections 3.2k and 3.2l for the lower limb. Sensory deficits and dysesthesia are both disorders of sensation, but the former can be interpreted to mean diminished or absent sensation (hypesthesia or anesthesia) Dysesthesia implies abnormal sensation in the absence of a stimulus or unpleasant sensation elicited by normal touch. Sections 3.2k and 3.2d indicate that almost all partial motor loss in the lower extremity can be rated using Table 39. In addition, Section 4.4b and Table 21 indicate the multistep method used for spinal and some additional nerves and be used alternatively to rate lower extremity weakness in general. Partial motor loss in the lower extremity is rated by manual muscle testing, which is described in the AMA Guides in Section 3.2d.

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INTERNAL CONSISTENCY OF MANUAL MUSCLE TESTING SCORES

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.85.6.736-738 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 85 (6) ◽

pp. 736 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

RICHARD W. BOHANNON

Keyword(s):

Internal Consistency ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Muscle Testing

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Impact of structured physical therapy intervention on functional recovery in a patient with CAPOS syndrome: a case report

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1186/s43161-021-00026-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shailesh Gardas ◽

Aishwarya Mahajan

Keyword(s):

Functional Performance ◽

Functional Independence Measure ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Measurement Scale ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Trunk Control ◽

Control Measurement ◽

Muscle Testing ◽

Post Test ◽

Capos Syndrome

Abstract Background CAPOS syndrome (cerebellar ataxia, areflexia, pescavus, optic atrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss) is a rare congenital autosomal dominant disorder. The resulting neurological sequelae of impairments are progressive in nature and may interfere with functional independence, performing activities of daily living (ADL’s), and subsequently, affecting the quality of life (QOL). Since it is an extremely rare disorder, there is a severe dearth in the literature about how specific physiotherapy interventions may affect their functional status. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and Frenkel’s coordination exercises on functional recovery in a patient with CAPOS syndrome. Case presentation We herein present a case of a 25-year-old Indian male with complaints of generalized body weakness, difficulty visualizing distant objects, nystagmus, progressive sensorineural deafness, and ataxia. He was rehabilitated with a structured/customized physiotherapy protocol consisting of PNF approach and coordination exercises for 4 weeks, 6 days/week, 60 min daily. An improvement in overall functional performance of patient as per post-intervention scores of manual muscle testing, trunk control measurement scale, functional independence measure (components of self-care, transfers, and locomotion), and decline in severity of ataxia on scale for assessment and rating of ataxia scale was observed. Conclusion PNF and Frenkel’s exercises resulted in an improvement in overall functional performance of the patient. Improvement was observed in post-test scores of Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for the components of self-care, transfers, and locomotion. Additionally, results also showed a decline in severity of ataxia on post-test scores of scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) scale (i.e., from severe to moderate).

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Integration of focal vibration and intra-articular oxygen–ozone therapy in rehabilitation of painful knee osteoarthritis

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060520986705 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 030006052098670

Author(s):

Teresa Paolucci ◽

Francesco Agostini ◽

Andrea Bernetti ◽

Marco Paoloni ◽

Massimiliano Mangone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Knee Injury ◽

Medical Research Council ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Ozone Therapy ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Daily Life Activities ◽

Muscle Testing ◽

End Of Treatment

Objective To examine the pain-reducing effects of intra-articular oxygen–ozone (O2O3) injections and mechanical focal vibration (mFV) versus O2O3 injections alone in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods Patients with chronic pain (>6 weeks) due to knee osteoarthritis (II–III on the Kellgren–Lawrence scale) were consecutively enrolled and divided into two groups: O2O3 (n = 25) and O2O3-mFV (n = 24). The visual analog scale (VAS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Medical Research Council (MRC) Manual Muscle Testing scale were administered at baseline (before treatment), after 3 weeks of treatment, and 1 month after the end of treatment. Patients received three once-weekly intra-articular injections of O2O3 into the knee (20 mL O3, 20 μg/mL). The O2O3-mFV group also underwent nine sessions of mFV (three sessions per week). Results The VAS score, KOOS, and MRC score were significantly better in the O2O3-mFV than O2O3 group. The within-group analysis showed that all scores improved over time compared with baseline and were maintained even 1 month after treatment. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion An integrated rehabilitation protocol involving O2O3 injections and mFV for 3 weeks reduces pain, increases autonomy in daily life activities, and strengthens the quadriceps femoris.

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The Effect of Bedding System Selected by Manual Muscle Testing on Sleep-Related Cardiovascular Functions

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/937986 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Terry B. J. Kuo ◽

Jia-Yi Li ◽

Chun-Ting Lai ◽

Yu-Chun Huang ◽

Ya-Chuan Hsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Power ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Manual Muscle Testing ◽

Vagal Activity ◽

Double Blind ◽

Muscle Testing ◽

Sympathetic Modulation ◽

Sleep Log ◽

Baroreceptor Reflex Sensitivity ◽

Cardiovascular Functions

Background. Different types of mattresses affect sleep quality and waking muscle power. Whether manual muscle testing (MMT) predicts the cardiovascular effects of the bedding system was explored using ten healthy young men.Methods. For each participant, two bedding systems, one inducing the strongest limb muscle force (strong bedding system) and the other inducing the weakest limb force (weak bedding system), were identified using MMT. Each bedding system, in total five mattresses and eight pillows of different firmness, was used for two continuous weeks at the participant’s home in a random and double-blind sequence. A sleep log, a questionnaire, and a polysomnography were used to differentiate the two bedding systems.Results and Conclusion. Heart rate variability and arterial pressure variability analyses showed that the strong bedding system resulted in decreased cardiovascular sympathetic modulation, increased cardiac vagal activity, and increased baroreceptor reflex sensitivity during sleep as compared to the weak bedding system. Different bedding systems have distinct cardiovascular effects during sleep that can be predicted by MMT.

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