Applied Kinesiology
Applied Kinesiology has produced some of the most evolutionary techniques such as acupoint tapping (now used and recommended by Donna Eden and Paul McKenna), muscle testing as a diagnostic tool, temporal tapping and therapy localization. It is also the father of TFT, EFT, as well as hundreds of other types of kinesiologies via Touch For Health. It developed in the 1960’s when Dr George Goodheart, the creator of applied kinesiology, discovered that he could influence the strength of muscles by introducing a sensory challenge. Applied Kinesiology has been described by Dr Schmitt as “the evaluation of functional neurology.”
Academic Kinesiology
Kinesiology is the study of the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of body movement, as well as the application of the principles of kinesiology to the evaluation and treatment of muscular imbalance or derangement. It is a scientifically validated subject taught at universities and vital to the analysis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems. However, kinesiology alone is not an independent discipline used for diagnosis or treatment. A kinesiologist will evaluate movement and movement problems with regard to anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, but physical therapy, occupational therapy, ergonomics, massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy or kinesiotherapy will supply the relevant therapeutic techniques to correct the identified problems. Kinesiology can be used therapeutically, preventatively or to hone skills for high-performance. Some experts and authors in the field also refer to kinesiology as academic kinesiology or applied kinesiology, which can be very confusing.
Applied Kinesiology |
Applied Kinesiology is a rather unfortunate name, referring a complementary practice used by chiropractors, osteopaths, doctors, psychologists and other health professionals and not to the discipline of kinesiology mentioned above. The choice of name is related to the obvious similarities between kinesiology and applied kinesiology.
Applied kinesiology is the study of anatomy, physiology and mechanics of body movement, and the application of these principles of kinesiology to the evaluation and treatment of muscular imbalance or derangement. However, it is not an independent discipline used for diagnosis or treatment. An applied kinesiologist will evaluate movement and movement problems with regard to anatomy, physiology and biomechanics, but physical therapy, ergonomics, massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy and other disciplines will supply the relevant therapeutic techniques to correct the identified problems. Applied kinesiology can be used therapeutically, preventatively or to hone skills for high-performance.
What is applied kinesiology that kinesiology is not?
Applied Kinesiology incorporates techniques both from scientifically validated sources as well as disciplines lacking scientific backing. Techniques are borrowed from both medical and complementary medicine, tested by practitioners for its efficacy, and incorporated if successful and discarded if results are not reproducible by other practitioners. Applied Kinesiology has progressed towards evaluating the nervous system via the musculoskeletal system, rather than the neuro-musculoskeletal system alone. Where kinesiology assess musculoskeletal dysfunction and uses various techniques from multiple disciplines to correct dysfunction, applied kinesiology has incorporated a wider range of techniques, partially from sourcing from complementary disciplines as mentioned above, but also making more extensive connections between the musculoskeletal system and other systems within the body. Through trial-and-error, relationships have been established via the nervous system, between muscles and organs, muscles and meridians, muscles and reflex points, muscles and endocrine glands, muscles and nutrition, muscles and cranial vaults, muscles and vascular integrity, muscles and the lymphatic system.
How does muscle testing work?
AK uses muscle weakness to diagnose abnormal proprioceptive input causing inappropriate inhibition or excitation. Proprioceptive input is not limited to mechanoreceptors, since proprioception is just afferent sensory input. Muscles may change their state in response to a variety of sensory challenges, such as taste, smell, vision, hearing or touch.
In Summary
Applied Kinesiology rests firmly on the application of kinesiology, i.e. anatomy, physiology and biomechanics as related to movement and musculoskeletal problems. Muscle testing is used as a diagnostic tool, not in isolation, but in combination with standard tests and used in an identical manner to academic kinesiology. Muscle testing is not used as a therapeutic aid at any point, therapeutic techniques are sourced from various other medical and complementary disciplines. Muscle Testing is not infallible, but used in conjunction with standard tests simply provides an additional diagnostic tool to further improve accuracy and reliability.
What is Applied Kinesiology is not
Applied Kinesiology is often misunderstood, misinterpreted and misrepresented. There are hundreds of different types of complementary kinesiology modalities, each functioning on its own principles and using various different applications of muscle testing. Applied Kinesiology adhere's to stringent rules about what is possible, what is reliable and what can and cannot be done:
Muscle Testing
Applied Kinesiology uses muscle testing, in combination with standard tests, to assess the functionality of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. It does not use muscle testing in isolation to diagnose a specific problem. Laboratory tests, functional tests, structural evaluation and neurological tests are used in conjunction with muscle testing and an evaluation is made on the outcome of all the test results. Muscle test is not 100% correct or reliable and used in isolation, can be extremely unreliable and lead to misguided therapeutic applications. Muscle testing is always supported by sound physiological knowledge of academic kinesiology.
Verbal Questioning
Verbal questioning (asking a question and muscle testing for a 'weak' or 'strong' muscle to indicate 'no' or 'yes') and evaluating thought processes (think about... and muscle tests indicates the effect the thought is having) is not considered a reliable technique, and therefore not used in AK.
Hypertonicity
AK distinguishes between three different muscle states: normotonic ('strong'), hypotonic ('weak') and hypertonic ('too strong'), where other kinesiologies distinguish only between two different muscle states: 'strong' muscles and 'weak' muscles. The limitation of recognising only two states is that 'too strong' muscles is as dysfunctional as weak muscles, but goes unrecognised and slides through as normal. Certain problems, like allergies, tend to produce hypertonicity rather than hypotonicity and cannot be identified if hypertonicity is not recognised.
Supplements
Applied Kinesiology does not make use of the practice of simply placing unopened test vials on the body and then muscle testing for effect. This form of muscle testing is invalidated and cannot be used to assess nutritional substances. Applied Kinesiology does not muscle test for the quantity required, since muscle testing cannot be used reliably to do so.
Basis
Applied Kinesiology is not based on Touch For Health, like all the other kinesiologies. Touch For Health is a highly simplified and distilled form of Applied Kinesiology and the adaptations made to the discipline to make it more accessible to lay people is not made in AK.
Applied Kinesiology Around The World |
Applied Kinesiology is practiced in many different countries, most prominent are chapters based in North-America and Europe.
- International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK)
- International Medical Society For Applied Kinesiology (IMAK)
- ICAK U.K.
- ICAK U.S.A.
- ICAK Australasia Chapter
- AKSE in Germany
- Applied Kinesiology also has Chapters, i.e. branches in Austria, Benelux, Brazil, Canada and Korea.
top