On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review.

Introduction: A body of basic science and clinical research has been generated on the manual muscle test (MMT) since its first peer-reviewed publication in 1915. The aim of this report is to provide an historical overview, literature review, description, synthesis and critique of the reliability and validity of MMT in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

Methods: Online resources were searched including Pubmed and CINAHL (each from inception to June 2006).