What is Applied Kinesiology?
History and current use
In 1964, George J. Goodheart invented Applied Kinesiology through his unique interpretation and application of Muscles: Testing and Function written by two physical therapists Kendall and Kendall.[10] While it is primarily used by chiropractors, it is now also used by a number of other practitioners.[11] In 2003 it was the 10th most frequently used chiropractic technique in the United States, with 37.6% of chiropractors employing this method and 12.9% of patients being treated with it,[12] and has also been used by naturopaths, medical doctors, dentists, nutritionists, physical therapists, massage therapists, nurse practitioners and multilevel distributors.[11][13]
Applied kinesiology is a system that evaluates structural, chemical, and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing along side conventional diagnostic methods. The essential premise of applied kinesiology that is not shared by mainstream medical theory is that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a weakness in a specific corresponding muscle, the viscerosomatic relationship.[13][14] Treatment modalities relied upon by practitioners include joint manipulation and mobilization, myofascial, cranial and meridian therapies, clinical nutrition, and dietary counseling.[15]
A manual muscle test in AK is conducted by having the patient resist using the target muscle or muscle group while the practitioner applies a force. A smooth response is sometimes referred to as a "strong muscle" and a response that was not appropriate is sometimes called a "weak response". This is not a raw test of strength, but rather a subjective evaluation of tension in the muscle and smoothness of response, taken to be indicative of stresses and imbalances in the body.[16] A weak muscle test is equated to dysfunction and chemical or structural imbalance or mental stress, indicative of a body dissatisfied with suboptimal functioning.[17] The most common test is the arm-pull-down test, or "Delta test," where the patient resists as the practitioner exerts a downward force on an extended arm.[10] Proper positioning is paramount to ensure that the muscle in question is the prime mover, minimizing interference from adjacent muscle groups.[14]
"Nutrient testing" is used to examine the response of various of a patient's muscles to assorted chemicals. Gustatory and olfactory stimulation are said to alter the outcome of a manual muscle test, with previously weak muscles being strengthened by application of the correct nutritional supplement, and previously strong muscles being weakened by exposure to harmful or imbalancing substances or allergens.[14][16][18] Though its use is deprecated by the ICAK,[19] stimulation to test muscle response to a certain chemical is also done by contact or proximity (for instance, testing while the patient holds a bottle of pills).
A double-blind study was conducted by the ALTA Foundation for Sports Medicine Research in Santa Monica, California and published in the June 1988 Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study used 3 experienced AK practitioners and concluded that, "The results of this study indicated that the use of Applied Kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing."[20]
"Therapy localization" is another diagnostic technique using manual muscle testing which is unique to applied kinesiology. The patient places a hand which is not being tested on the skin over an area suspected to be in need of therapeutic attention. This fingertip contact is hypothesized to focus the mind on the relevant area, leading to a change in muscle response from strong to weak or vice versa when therapeutic intervention is indicated. If the area touched is not associated with a need for such intervention, the muscle response is unaffected.[17]
Scientific Research
Proponents of AK cite evidence about the methods, clinical efficacy, and neurologic rationales of applied kinesiology examination and treatment.[21][22][23][24]. However, many studies of Applied Kinesiology have failed to show clinical efficacy. For example, muscle testing has not been shown to distinguish a test substance from a placebo under double-blind conditions, and the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status has not been shown to be more effective than random guessing. Some scientific studies have shown that applied kinesiology tests are not reproducible.[25][26][27][28][29] A review of several scientific studies have shown that AK-specific procedures and diagnostic tests concluded that "
A review of the literature revealed methodological problems with previous AK studies[22] and some studies show clinical efficacy. For example one study showed a high degree of correlation between AK muscle testing for food allergies and antibodies for those foods. The AK procedure in this study involved stimulation of taste receptors followed by muscle testing for change in strength.[23] The patient was suspected of being allergic to foods that disrupted muscle function. Blood drawn subsequently showed the presence of antibodies to the foods which were found to be allergenic through AK assessment. In another blinded study, the response of a calf muscle, to an inhibitory reflex technique used in AK was studied using graphical recordings of electromyography and mechanical parameters. The study found that with good coordination between the examiner and subject, muscle inhibition was easily recorded.[24]
Some of the studies, research and reviews of applied kinesiology mentioned above are listed at the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.[20] [27] [28] [31] [32] [33] [34]
Based on the concept of internal energy fundamental to traditional Chinese medicine, muscle testing is a noninvasive way of evaluating the body’s imbalances and assessing its needs. It involves testing the body’s responses when applying slight pressure to a large muscle, to provide information on energy blockages, the functioning of the organs, nutritional deficiencies, and food sensitivities, among other things. It can also be used to test the body’s responses to herbs and other remedies.
In a typical example of muscle testing, you’re given an herb to hold. You extend the other arm and are asked to keep it straight. The practitioner presses down on this arm and the opposite shoulder with equal pressure (to facilitate balance). If the herb is something you need, you’ll be able to resist the downward pressure and hold your arm rigid. If not, you won’t. The same procedure can be used to determine how often you should take each herb and how much each time. It can also be used to test the body’s responses to foods (for allergies), thoughts, sounds, colors, and emotions.
Some practitioners test with your arm straight out to the side, which relates only to the lung meridian. (The meridians are energy channels recognized by Chinese medicine.) Others use the central meridian for testing, with your arm toward the front and at an angle below horizontal. All the meridians intersect with the central meridian, so testing this way encompasses more body systems than testing just the lung meridian and is less fatiguing for both parties. Testing can also be done while you’re sitting or lying down.
Although muscle testing is simple, responses may be inconclusive if your energy is blocked. Testing your polarity before doing anything else reveals whether energy in the central meridian is flowing in the right direction. If not, it must be corrected before proceeding. The same polarity check is used with each product tested, to make sure the product doesn’t interfere with your polarity. The selected products are also tested as a group, because a product may test well individually, but combining it with others may produce a synergistic effect that reduces or eliminates the need for it.
Muscle testing is often referred to as applied kinesiology, although the two are not the same. Applied kinesiology originated with the work of Dr. George Goodheart, a chiropractor, in the sixties, based on earlier work by others. Offshoots of this technique, referred to as “specialized kinesiologies,” have also been developed. Perhaps the best known is a program called Touch for Health (TFH), created by a colleague of Goodheart’s, Dr. John Thie, which is taught worldwide. (Thie’s illustrated book, Touch for Health, has sold over half a million copies. Another classic in the field is Your Body Doesn’t Lie, by John Diamond, M.D.)
Touch For Health involves a specific series of tests with each limb in different positions, to ascertain how well each of the organ systems is communicating with the brain. It also involves balancing energy flow in meridians that are deficient, by holding pairs of points on the body and working lymphatic massage points. The International College of Applied Kinesiology, in Switzerland, promulgates the Touch For Health curriculum, which consists of several levels, and certifies instructors and their students.
By contrast, “muscle testing” often refers to a technique of testing points on the body to ascertain particular vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Donald Lepore, a naturopathic doctor, explains some of this in The Ultimate Healing System. It’s also possible to learn a simple technique for self-testing.
Self-testing can be done in various ways. One way is to touch the thumb to the middle finger of each hand to form two rings, linked through each other. Say something true—for example, “My name is [give your name].” At the same time, pull the linked fingers of the right hand against those of the left, but don’t allow them to separate.
Then say something false—for example, “My name is [give someone else’s name].” Do the same thing as before with the fingers, but this time deliberately separate them, as though they were flying apart or repelling each other. (You don’t need to make the true and false statements aloud—silently is okay, as long as you do it each time.)
The idea is to train the mind in different responses for truth and falsehood. If you practice this 10 or 15 minutes a day, you should be able to develop the response within a few weeks.
You can also check your responses by holding something detrimental while self-testing—sugar, for example—and seeing what response you get. Put the container in your pocket or hold it under your arm and test. Then hold something good for you—an herb you need or an organic vegetable—and test that. If you think your mind is influencing the results, you can have someone else put equal weights of both items in identical nonmetal containers.
An important element of muscle testing is your polarity. If it’s not correct (indicating that your energy is blocked), the results will be inaccurate. A discussion of polarity and its effect on muscle testing is beyond the scope of this article, but you can (and should) check your polarity by self-testing, once you learn it. Test while saying “My polarity is 100 percent” before testing anything else. The response to this statement will always be correct, even if your polarity is off. This is the only response you can be sure is correct under those circumstances.
Polarity can be corrected in a number of ways. One way is to hold a bottle of chlorophyll or spirulina while testing or take a few drops of chlorophyll in water. You may need to remove any metal you’re wearing. You can also be off if you’re hungry or thirsty. Drink a glass of water and/or eat something.
Your polarity should be correct most of the time. If it isn’t, you may want to consult someone who knows about muscle testing to find out what you can do about it.
Muscle testing will not provide accurate responses to certain statements: about the future, for example. You’ll get a response, but if you say, “This answer is reliable,” the response will be no. Muscle testing can be helpful for testing your responses to relationships and occupations, among other subjects. Keep in mind that statements are taken literally, so they have to be worded precisely.
The world runs on vibration. Everything we see, taste, touch, smell, and hear is made up of vibration. These vibrations either make our body strong by responding positively to them which in turn makes our bodies, muscles, and ultimately our immune system strong--or they weaken it. The goal is to find those things, foods, people, and situations that strengthen your body and therefore strengthen your immune system. You also want to stay away from or limit exposure to those things that weaken your body.
The body is an integral interacting whole. Muscles, organs, and glands are interconnected via energy circuits of nerves, lymphatics, energy meridians, and blood vessels. These circuits "turn off" when imbalanced or blocked by illness, injury, or toxin overload. By balancing the body's energy, the systems are able to heal returning us to a state of health. Muscle testing is one method that allows us to do this.
An indicator muscle (any old muscle that is available for use) is used to test the answer to our "yes" and "no" questions. Your practitioner may use the arm muscles, leg muscles, and their fingers (like I do) and even muscles you can't see such as the toes or tongue muscles to test. A negative answer to a question gives a sagging, clicking, or spongy feeling to the indicator muscle by short-circuiting or overloading the system. This makes it impossible for the indicator muscle to maintain its strength or hold position when pressure is applied.
I believe that the body knows why it is sick and how it got that way. By asking the correct questions we are able to find the core cause of illness. Through muscle testing we can determine if the core cause of our weight issue was something we ate, drank, inhaled, or were in contact with and even which techniques can be utilized to best overcome the challenge.
Muscle testing is a tool. Some people just have a feeling what will work for them, some people listen to their intuition, some look for signs, some gather evidence to make decisions, and others just listen to their gut instinct. What I like about muscle testing is that I can ask the best healers to be present (including asking for God’s help) and ask a "yes" or "no" question to get an immediate answer.
