Muscle Testing – also referred to as – (Touch for Health, Neurokinetic Therapy, Applied Kinesiology (AK) which George J. Goodheart, a chiropractor, originated applied kinesiology in 1964)
Who invented muscle testing?
The early 1900s: Boston orthopedic surgeon, R.W.Lovett first developed the science of manual muscle testing. He used his muscle testing to analyze disabilities resulting from polio and nerve damage.
What is muscle testing?
Muscle testing is also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT). It is an alternative medicine practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. Applied kinesiology is not a part of the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body.The basic idea behind AK is similar to one of Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, which states, “for every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Applied kinesiology takes this concept and applies it to the human body. This means that any internal issues you may be experiencing would be accompanied by related muscle weakness.
Is muscle testing legitimate?
According to several studies — including a 2001 study trusted Source on the kinesiology muscle test — while some standard orthopedic or chiropractic muscle tests may be helpful for specific muscle-related weaknesses, muscles tests are useless for diagnosing medical conditions (such as organic disease or mental illness).
A brief history of applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology began with George Goodheart Jr. in 1964 as a system of muscle testing and therapy. Several years later, in a study conducted by Ray Hyman, a group of chiropractors wanted to demonstrate that they were able to tell the difference between subjects given good sugar (fructose) and bad sugar (glucose). A drop of sugar water was placed on a test subject’s tongue. They then measured the strength of each test subject’s arms. The chiropractors anticipated being able to identify which subject had been given the bad sugar based on their muscles being weaker. However, multiple failed attempts later, they ended the test.More recently, these concepts have been debunked and described as “not conforming to the scientific fact” regarding medical conditions and their causes or treatments.Who practices applied kinesiology? In a survey conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) in 1998, Applied kinesiology was used by 43 percent of chiropractic offices in the United States. Although the majority of practitioners in the survey were chiropractors, occupations also included nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and massage and physical therapists. Currently, the Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) advocates for the use of applied kinesiology in treating allergies and other sensitivities. However, the results of a 2001 study trusted Sourceusing muscle tests as an allergy test for wasp venom states that it is no more helpful in diagnosing allergies than random guessing.
What is applied kinesiology & How does it work?
Applied kinesiology is a way of evaluating structural, chemical, and mental areas of health by using manual muscle testing (MMT) along with conventional methods. The idea behind this technique is that every organ dysfunction is associated with weakness in a corresponding muscle.
Is there any evidence that kinesiology works?
Kinesiology is based on an energy model of health (not a medical one). There is little evidence of the underlying philosophy and claims of benefit.
Are Kinesiologists quacks?
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a pseudoscience-based techniquein alternative medicine claimed to be able to diagnose illness or choose treatment by testing muscles for strength and weakness.
Is kinesiology muscle tested?
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has grown in popularity over the last 30 years. It’s a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many different kinds of health practitioners during examination or evaluation.
Do kinesiologists work?
Kinesiologists can help you find what IS wrong,and give the body the tools for the job to get back to, and then maintain good health. Systematic Kinesiology uses simple, safe, precise muscle testing procedures to find problem areas.
Is kinesiology a pseudoscience?
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a pseudoscience-based technique in alternative medicine claimed to be able to diagnose illness or choose treatment by testing muscles for strength and weakness.
What conditions does kinesiology treat?
Applied kinesiology is a holistic practice to efficiently diagnose and treat structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. Practitioners use applied kinesiology to treat the nervous system, nutritional deficiencies or excess, imbalances in meridians, stress, and much more.
Can kinesiology help hormone imbalance?
Kinesiology also has detailed procedures to help balance hormones (particularly stress hormones) that may be contributing to inflammation, muscle contraction, and further pain and discomfort (especially the jaw and neck/shoulder pain and tension we all experience when stress is active in our body).
How does kinesiology help anxiety?
Kinesiology monitors those muscles that are in a perpetual state of stress, such as the neck and back, and by using hypertonic muscle release and massage, the pent up energy is released, allowing the body to relax, the fluids to flow without hindrance, and the adrenal gland to take a load off.
What happens during kinesiology?
Kinesiology focuses on body, mind, and spirit and the connections between the physical body, and emotional and biochemical stress. Because kinesiology addresses the root causes of the problems using muscle testing it can take fewer sessions to fully treat an issue than many other therapies.
What is the difference between kinesiology and physiotherapy?
A physiotherapist uses more passive techniques (for example needlework). A kinesiologist will typically spend more time with their clients. While a kinesiologist is trained in passive techniques, they will use more active exercise rehab and fitness programming.
How long does kinesiology taping take to work?
There is no doubt about it….the colorful taping definitely looks cool.
The tape can usually stay in place for three or four days even while showering or exercising. Positive results are reported to be felt within 24 hours for many users of kinesiology tape. My friend who is the head of a major university athlete training facility and I both agree that taping is mostly for show and does not offer many benefits for athletic injuries and acts as a placebo for athletes.
They’ve been hard to miss at this year’s Olympic Games: Strips of brightly colored tape adorning the arms, legs, and torsos of many top athletes. But more than just fashion is driving this trend.
The tape is called Kinesio tape. Many athletes believe it has medical benefits.
The tape was invented by Japanese chiropractor Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. The U.K. website for Kinesio tape claims it can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, relax muscles, enhance performance, and help with rehabilitation as well as supporting muscles during a sporting event.
The tape had some substantial effects on muscle activity, but it was not clear whether these changes were beneficial or harmful.
The study concluded there was little quality evidence to support the use of Kinesio tape over other types of elastic taping to manage or prevent sports injuries.
Evidence Lacking
There has not been conclusive scientific or medical evidence to confirm the effectiveness of the tape. A review of evidence from 10 research papers for Kinesio tape to treat and prevent sports injuries was published in the journal Sports Medicine in February.
No clinically important results were found to support the tape’s use for pain relief.
There were inconsistent range-of-motion results.
Seven outcomes relating to strength were beneficial.
Experts Skeptical
“The jury is still out on the hard and fast science of it,” says John Brewer, head of sport and exercise sciences and director of sport at the University of Bedfordshire in the U.K.
He finds it difficult to understand how the tape can help: “When we exercise, it is muscles that are deep down in the body that is as much part of the energy-generating process as muscles near the skin.
Muscle testing was first used in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio victims. Then, in 1949, Kendall and Kendall, two physiotherapists, described specific ways to test individual muscles for other neuromusculoskeletal conditions.
How does muscle testing work?
During a muscle test, a practitioner applies a force to one muscle or group of muscles, with a particular intent in mind. The muscle is then labeled “weak” or “strong” based on its ability to resist this force.
Performing Manual Muscle Tests
The following links demonstrate Manual Muscle Testing of specific joints and movements:
“In a brief session, a competently applied kinesiologist can evaluate your various body functions by testing your muscles, and then present you with a fairly accurate picture of how your glands, organs, lymphatic system, nervous system, circulation, and muscle and bone structures are working.” My general Dr. also uses this technique.
How do you test for muscle weakness?
Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic test. Your doctor may order this test to help evaluate the health and function of your nerves and muscles. An EMG may be recommended if your symptoms such as have muscle weakness or numbness and tingling.
Can blood tests detect muscle damage?
A blood test will let your doctor know if you have elevated levels of muscle enzymes, which can indicate muscle damage. A blood test can also detect specific autoantibodies associated with different symptoms of polymyositis, which can help in determining the best medication and treatment.
What is muscle testing for supplements?
Muscle testing allows you to determine what makes your body strong or weak via the strength or weakness of an indicator muscle. With muscle testing, you can determine what supplements and foods are helpful for your body and what are not.
How do you know if you have muscle weakness?
CT scans or MRIs to examine the inner structures of your body. nerve tests to assess how well your nerves are working. electromyography (EMG) to test the nerve activity in your muscles.
… Diagnosing the underlying cause of muscle weakness
reflexes.
senses.
muscle tone.
How do you know if your legs are weak?
Rising from a squatting position or stepping onto a chair test proximal leg strength; walking on the heels and on tiptoe tests distal strength. Pushing with the arms to get out of a chair indicates quadriceps weakness.
What is another name for muscle testing?
Muscle testing is also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT). It is an alternative medicine practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments.
Is muscle testing real?
Manual muscle testing (MMT) is a non-invasive assessment tool used by a variety of health care providers, including physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, medical doctors and massage therapists, to evaluate neuromusculoskeletal integrity for a variety of purposes.
Is muscle testing true?
According to several studies — including a 2001 study on the kinesiology muscle test — while some standard orthopedic or chiropractic muscle tests may be helpful for specific muscle-related weaknesses, muscles tests are useless for diagnosing medical conditions (such as organic disease or mental illness).
What is holistic muscle testing?
Muscle Testing supports a Holistic Health program by pinpointing any energy blockages in the body. Using the biofeedback gathered from testing, a practitioner can determine the proper Energy Therapy treatment. Talk Therapy has dominated the Psychological therapeutic industry for many years.
What diseases affect your muscles?
Types of neuromuscular disorders include:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Multiple sclerosis.
Muscular dystrophy.
Myasthenia gravis.
Myopathy.
Myositis, including polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
Peripheral neuropathy.
What are the 7 most common diseases of the muscular system?
Fibromyalgia.
Movement Disorders.
Multiple Sclerosis.
Muscle Cramps.
Muscular Dystrophy.
Myasthenia Gravis.
Myositis.
Neuromuscular Disorders.
How are muscle diseases diagnosed?
Patients diagnosed by muscle biopsy usually need genetic testing as well to confirm mutations in their genes.Genetic testing looks for genes known either to cause or be associated with inherited muscle disease. DNA analysis and enzyme assays can confirm the diagnosis of certain neuromuscular diseases, including MD.
Muscle testing can also be used for finding truth vs falsehood!
I’m an avid student of David R Hawkins and I highly recommend all his books and DVDs.
Reveals a breakthrough in documenting a new era of human knowledge. Only in the last decade has a science of Truth emerged that, for the first time in human history, enables the discernment of truth from falsehood. Presented are discoveries of an enormous amount of crucial and significant information of great importance to mankind. Truth and Reality, Dr. Hawkins states, have no secrets, and everything that exists now or in the past – even a thought – is identifiable and calibratable from the omnipresent field of Consciousness itself.
A System of Muscle Testing and Re-Balancing. The Touch for Health System is a practical guide to natural health that utilizes acupressure and massage to improve postural balance and reduce physical and mental pain and tension.
The Complete Edition: A Practical Guide to Natural Health with Acupressure Touch and Massage
I read the entire book many years ago and my thoughts then and still are that this is for massage therapists that are looking for a system to use and this book may help them. But throughout the book, they mention that deep tissue massage and other modalities may be needed. I’ve been doing massage for 13 years full time and have worked on well over 20,000 clients, then I lost count, and I go by what my knowledgeable hands and heart feel.
Same text – new sturdy paperback edition. Includes Updated Color Photographs and Illustrations.
With over ½ million copies in print since 1973, John Thie s Touch for Health started a phenomenon that has flourished worldwide to help more than 10 million people in over 40 countries restore their natural healing energies and enjoy vibrant health through his unique treatment of posture and muscle balancing that combines simple aspects of acupressure touch and massage. From this book, you will learn the techniques that chiropractors, alternative health specialists, athletic trainers, and massage therapists have found invaluable in preventive healthcare treatment.
Is chiropractic evidence-based?
There is no conclusive evidence that chiropractic manipulative treatment is effective for the treatment of any medical condition, except perhaps for certain kinds of back pain. Generally, the research carried out into the effectiveness of chiropractic has been of poor quality.
What is NeuroKinetic Therapy? NeuroKinetic Therapy is a testing protocol that identifies dysfunctional movement patterns that are stored in the brain. Using this protocol, therapists can stimulate the body-brain complex to resolve injury, stress, and pain.
What is neuro kinetic energy?
NKT involves the completion of a thorough examination of the entire body by employing a system of precise muscle tests, which can then be interpreted by certified therapists to identify the presence of any muscle imbalances and dysfunctions that may contribute to potential issues.
What does a neuromuscular therapist do?
Neuromuscular massage therapy is a specialized form of manual massage in which digital pressure and friction are used to release areas of strain in a muscle. Strain areas are called tender or trigger points, and they tend to be the cause of ongoing muscular pain symptoms.
Is neuromuscular therapy painful?
Neuromuscular therapy will feel painful at first, but the pressure of the massage should alleviate the muscle spasm. At this point, it is extremely important to communicate with the massage therapist regarding the pressure – whether the pressure is too much, too little, getting better, or getting worse.
Is neuromuscular therapy good for you?
Neuromuscular therapy does not only provide relaxation but also pain treatment. The goal is to rebuild the strength of injured tissues while restoring your body’s physical functionality. This type of massage also promotes improved blood circulation. Thus, promoting good overall health.
What should I expect after a neuromuscular massage?
Following a neuromuscular therapy massage, any soreness that presents itself should fade after twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The muscles that were tight should remain noticeably more relaxed for four to fourteen days, depending on stress, activity level, and severity of back pain prior to beginning massage therapy.
How often should you get a neuromuscular massage?
For stress relief: Every one to two weeks
Therapeutic massage by a trained professional massage therapist has been found to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and stress-related insomnia.
What is the difference between neuromuscular therapy and massage therapy?
Deep Tissue massage also does not require any additional training or Certification from basic massage therapy education. Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly-specialized form of manual therapy that corrects pain and dysfunction by treating trigger points, muscle adhesions, and fascial (connective tissue) patterns.
NeuroKinetic Therapy is a sophisticated form of manual therapy that combines motor control theory and manual muscle testing. The science of motor control theory states that the motor control center in the cerebellum stores all the coordination patterns of the body. It is directed by the limbic system and the cerebral cortex to not only create movement patterns (such as when a baby learns to stand) but also to create substitute movement patterns when we are injured. An experiment was performed with an EMG that measured the ability of different muscles in the upper arm and forearm to perform supination of the forearm. As we know, the biceps is the most powerful supinator of the forearm. In this experiment, the biceps were inhibited and various muscles of the forearm were measured to see which one engaged to perform supination. In this case, the brachioradialis supinated the strongest. What does this tell us? When a muscle is inhibited for whatever reason, the motor control center will find a substitute muscle to perform the function. If this pattern is allowed to remain in the motor control center, dysfunction and pain will follow. How then can we undo this dysfunctional pattern?
We also know from motor control theory that if the body fails to perform a specific function, the motor control center is open to new learning for approximately 30 to 60 seconds.How then can we communicate with the motor control center? Manual muscle testing allows us to find muscles that are weak or dysfunctional in relationship to other muscles. Using the experiment above, a practitioner of NeuroKinetic Therapy would test the strength of the brachioradialis muscle and then test the strength of the biceps. In this case, the biceps would test weak. A release of 30 to 60 seconds would be performed on the brachioradialis and then the biceps would be retested. If the biceps test strong, the motor control center has been successfully reprogrammed. If the biceps still test weak, the brachioradialis could be re-released or another muscle in the area may need to be released. The client would be sent home with instructions on how to release the brachioradialis and then how to strengthen the biceps. This basic concept can be applied to muscles and dysfunctional patterns throughout the body.
NeuroKinetic Therapy is an excellent modality in rehabilitation and manual therapy because it not only identifies the cause of pain and dysfunction but also corrects it very quickly and quite painlessly.
*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.
