Review Article · Übersichtsarbeit

A Review of the Literature in Applied and Specialised Kinesiology
S. Hall, G. Lewith, S. Brien, P. Little

Complementary Medicine Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK

Forsch Komplementmed 2008;15:40-46 (DOI: 10.1159/000112820)

  Summary

Introduction: Kinesiology is a diagnostic, therapeuticcomplementary therapy utilising subtle change in manualmuscle testing results to evaluate the body’s energeticbalance and select healing modalities. Anecdotal evidencesuggests kinesiology is helpful, therefore wewished to critically review the literature. Aims: (1) To ascertainif diagnostic accuracy including inter-examinerreliability has been established. (2) To review whetherthere is evidence for its therapeutic effectiveness. (3) Tocritically assess the quality of relevant studies. Methods: Electronic databases were searched. Diagnostic accuracystudies were analysed and scored for methodologicalquality and quality of reporting using the quality assessmenttool for studies of diagnostic accuracy included insystematic reviews (QUADAS) and the Standards for Reportingof Diagnostic Studies (STARD). Clinical studieswere analysed for methodological quality using theJADAD scale and for quality of reporting using the ConsolidatedStandards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Results: 22 original relevant studies were identified. Theirmethodology was poor. Items reported on QUADASscored 1-11 out of a possible 14, STARD scores were between6-13 out of 25, JADAD scores were all 0 out of 5and CONSORT 4-6 out of 22. Consequently, we were unableto answer any of our research questions. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence for diagnostic accuracywithin kinesiology, the validity of muscle responseand the effectiveness of kinesiology for any condition.The standards of reporting were low. We recommend apragmatic study of the effectiveness of kinesiology asthe most appropriate initial step to determine whetherkinesiology has any clinical value.