An inter-tester reliability and feasibility study of the Manual Physiotherapeutic Correction (MFK) method

Abstract

Background: The Czech Manual Physiotherapeutic Correction (MFK) Method^® was introduced to Swedish physiotherapists. This study evaluated the inter-tester reliability of the manual muscle testing procedure included in the method. The feasibility of the MFK Method^®, when used in Sweden, was also investigated.

Methods: Two Czech physiotherapists, experienced in the MFK Method^®, rated performance of the 41 tests included in the manual muscle testing procedure for 20 participants. Cohen’s kappa statistics were performed to evaluate agreement between the raters. When investigating the feasibility of the method, two Swedish physiotherapists used the MFK Method^® in the rehabilitation of 10 patients.

Results: Kappa values varied from −0.06 to 0.84. After adjusting for prevalence of failed tests, 15 of the 41 muscle tests demonstrated values of >0.40. When using the MFK Method^® in Sweden, several practical obstacles were found.

Conclusion: Most of the tests showed low inter-tester reliability. The testing procedure needs to be further standardized and the practical issues solved before the feasibility of the method, when used in Sweden and/or other countries, can be investigated again.

Keywords:

• MFK Method
• manual muscle test
• inter-tester reliability
• feasibility

Disclosure statement

Authors MK and MM work at the MFK Centrum^®. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.