Applied Kinesiology

Manual muscle testing (MMT)

First described in the literature in 1915 by Lovett and Martin, MMT was originally used to assess muscular weakness in people with polio. The tests were crude and generalised, and little was known about their validity.

In 1949, in their benchmark textbook, “Muscles: Testing and Function”, Kendall and Kendall outlined specific methodologies to isolate and test individual muscles or muscle groups. Currently, it is this type of MMT that is used in orthopaedic, neurology and physical medicine settings to assess neuromusculoskeletal integrity. This form of MMT usually tests for muscular strength or power, and outcomes are typically graded from 0 to 5, and interpreted as 5 being normal.

In the 1960s, a different use for MMT was developed by a chiropractor named George Goodheart. In Goodheart’s technique, called Applied Kinesiology (AK), specific muscles are tested, not to evaluate muscular strength or power per se, but to evaluate the neural control of muscle function. The basic premise of AK is that when there is aberrant nervous system input to a muscle, it is less likely to be able to resist an externally applied force. Therefore, target conditions of AK-style MMT include various types of neurologic dysfunction, which then may be related to some altered physiological function, such as organ, endocrine or immune dysfunction.

Applied Kinesiology (AK)

AK is like a body language system, addressing the structural, chemical, and mental components of health. An AK practitioner uses MMT to assess nervous system (dys)function and find the best possible solution to a health concern. In communicating with the body, the AK practitioner is able to potentially help identify dysfunction and appropriate treatment. This may include:

• Specific joint adjustments
• Myofascial release
• Craniosacral techniques
• Homeopathy
• Clinical nutrition
• Food sensitivities
• Food intolerances
• Dietary management
• Hormonal imbalance
• Counselling or guidance
• Environmental irritants
• Retained primitive reflexes

AK MMT is used in combination with information gathered during a consultation, physical and neurological examination, blood tests, and imaging, to assess areas of imbalance and/or dysfunction within different systems of the body. This may help identify areas of toxicity, deficiency or poor absorption, for example. These problems may arise due to past and present lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, stress, food intolerance, digestive problems, gut flora imbalance, drug-related side effects, nutrient deficiencies, incorrect supplementation and/or heavy metal toxicity.

An AK practitioner also typically sees conditions ranging from anxiety, to depression, intolerances or sensitivities, fatigue, low immunity, or stress related health concerns. The underpinning philosophy of systems biology at Spinewave enables a holistic approach to solving such complex health conditions.