Applied Kinesiology
Applied Kinesiology is an alternative medical practice developed by chiropractor George J. Goodheart in 1964. People’s illnesses are assumed to be caused by improperly balanced energy fields in the body and they are diagnosed by testing the strength of muscles, each of which is believed to be connected to a different organ. Problems are treated with particular types of muscle massages that are believed to release blockages and stimulate energy flow and thus heal the patient.
Applied Kinesiology bases on the philosophies of other holistic therapies, such as osteopathy, chiropractic, meridian therapy, or physical manipulation. Each movement is believed to have an active muscle that is „on“ and an opposing muscle that is „off“. Any muscular imbalances are corrected by using manual pressure on the muscle, among other techniques.
Applied Kinesiology Treatment
Applied Kinesiology uses muscle testing as a diagnostic method, whereby the arm-pulldown test ist the most frequently used. By testing the function of a specific muscle, the physical, chemical, or mental imbalances are determined and corrected by using manual pressure on the muscle.
As each muscle is believed to be connected to an organ, each muscle test is indicator of the connected organ’s health. For instance, the deltoid muscle is claimed to be related to the lungs, therefore a muscle test on the deltoid muscle reveals the health of the lungs. Is the muscle weak due to some lung infection, the applied kinesiologist will try out different herbs and vitamins by putting them on or under the tongue of the patient, one at a time, each time retesting the deltoid muscle. The one herb or vitamin that improves the deltoid muscle function best, is then chosen for treatment. Applied kinesiologists believe that the substance on or under the tongue can stimulate nerve endings and brain regions.
Applied Kinesiology is also used to detect food allergies and sensitivities. It is believed that foods that cause allergic reactions are responsible for reversible muscle weakness. The patients take sample of foods into the mouth, again one at a time, while muscle tests are performed. As severe allergies may lead to an anaphylactic shock, the patient is often asked to simply hold a substance or place that substance near a particular organ while the practitioner performs the muscle tests.
Practitioners of Applied Kinesiology
Applied Kinesiology is often practiced by chiropractors, but also medical doctors, dentists, physical therapists, massage therapists, nurse practitioners, naturophaths, and other health providers may use this technique.
Other Forms of Kinesiology
Another form of Applied Kinesiology is Behavioral Kinesiology that was developed by John Diamond. He follows the basic philosophy of Applied Kinesiology in believing that each muscle is connected to a particular organ, but he focuses on the thymus gland playing a key role in regulating a person’s psychic energy.
Further, there are branches such as Clinical Kinesiology, Systematic Kinesiology, Manual Kinesiology, Educational Kinesiology, Wellness Kinesiology, Energetic Kinesiology, and Wholistic Kinesiology, to name just a few.
Scientific Research on Applied Kinesiology
There is only limited scientific research on Applied Kinesiology and the research done so far could not establish any specific links between muscle responses and diseases. It has also not been shown to be effective for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease. Applied Kinesiology is therefore not recommended as an only diagnostic tool as there may be a risk that diseases remain undetected and untreated.