Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a non-invasive, diagnostic assessment that utilizes manual muscle testing as a functional, neurologic evaluation tool to evaluate the Structural, Chemical and Mental aspects of one’s health (triad of health). Simply put by Eugene Charles, AK can be defined as “the clinical application of the study of movement and function.”
“Simply put” however, is an understatement as answering the question “what do you do?” in a sentence or two is very challenging. Applied Kinesiology embraces all modalities of healing, including but not limited to – chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition/supplementation, homeopathy, emotional techniques, massage therapies, cranial techniques, biochemistry, naturopathy, dentistry, medicine, osteopathy, etc. Combining all these skills the Applied Kinesiologist is able to answer the ultimate question, WHY? Why is this muscle tight? Why do I have chronic headaches? Why do I have lower back pain? For example, a person may experience lower back pain that simply needs a chiropractic adjustment; another may need specific myofascial techniques to work directly on muscles; someone else may have visceral referred pain from an organ; while another may need to resolve a nutrient deficiency. The individuality of each case must be fully assessed to identify the root cause of the problem.
In AK we are isolating individual muscles to measure how the nervous system controls muscle function. Every muscle in your body is correlated to a specific organ, gland, acupuncture meridian, spinal level, nutrient, etc. One of the biggest misconceptions with muscle testing to those that are unfamiliar with the technique is that they think muscle testing is a measure of one’s muscle strength. We are NOT measuring the strength of the muscle, rather we are measuring the muscles function relative to the nervous system. “This reading of your muscle function can change just like your blood pressure measurement can change depending on current stimuli – e.g. White Coat Syndrome” (Charles). This is why you can test an inhibited or “weak” deltoid muscle one second, change the stimulus and get that same inhibited deltoid muscle to “strengthen” the next.
Muscle testing is an art form and requires years of practice, using specific vectors of force applied to the given muscle being tested. Effective use of this functional neurologic assessment tool, can pinpoint specific spinal segments and accessory joints in need of a chiropractic adjustment, determine which nutrient/herb/supplement is most optimal for your individual physiology, activate inhibited muscles, energize deficient acupuncture meridians and organs, decrease pain, improve function and much more.
Resources:
What Is Applied Kinesiology Muscle Testing and How Does It Work?
Charlesseminars – https://www.charlesseminars.com/betterhealthbetterlife/2017/04/17/what-is-applied-kinesiology-muscle-testing-and-how-does-it-work