Kendall Muscle Testing?

[Guest guest]

The following interesting comments appeared on the Biomch-L list some years

ago on the validity of the muscle testing approach of Kendall:

For information and archives: http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-L

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Concerning Kendall's Muscles: Testing and Function -- although this book is a

standard reference, one should not jump to the conclusion that the

information contained within is necessarily valid or reliable. One of the

problems with the book is that none of the muscle tests is referenced, as

best as I can tell. Thus, one has no way to judge what evidence there is for

the validity of any of the tests without going straight to a Medline search.

Further in some cases there are studies that have shown that the method of

testing as espoused by Kendall et al are not valid (e.g. the supraspinatus,

infraspinatus, subscapularis, pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, and the anterior,

middle, and posterior deltoid muscles - see: BT, Kadrmas WR, Speer KP.

The manual muscle examination for rotator cuff strength: An electromyographic

investigation. Am J Sport Med 1996;24(5):581-8).

I know that this reference was published after Kendall; it just happens to be

one I know about. Still it shows that the methods described which may be

rational given the anatomy may not be valid.

M. Perle, D.C.

University of Bridgeport

College of Chiropractic Bridgeport, CT

http://www.bridgeport.edu/chiro/

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Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/