THE RELEVANCE OF THE ARMVORHALTETEST ACCO RDING TO MATTHIASS

Whithin the framework of a dissertation it was intended - among other things - to investigate the correlation between the ''Armvorhaltetest' ' according to Matthia ss and the maximal isometric force (MVC) of the back extensors, the abdominal muscles, the hip flexors and the hip ex tensors. First of all it could be shown that, at the beginning of the ''Armvorhaltetest'' according to Matthia ss, tall, light people move f orward their hip in a manner typical for persons with a weak posture. Apart from the above mentioned result only a weak correlation exists b etween the ''Armvorhaltetest'' according to Matthia ss and the MVC of the abdominal muscles. Furthermore the expected correlation between th e ''Armvorhaltetest'' and the force of the back extensors could not be established. These findings suggest that the applicability of the ''A rmvorhaltetest'' according to Matthia ss as a method to diagnose postu re faults in general or to test the force of the back extensors in par ticular has to be called into question.