During
the 1960s a new system of evaluation began to develop in chiropractic.
Dr. George Goodheart of Detroit, Michigan, found that evaluation
of normal and abnormal body function could be accomplished
by using muscle tests. Since the original discovery, the principle
has broadened to include evaluation of the nervous, vascular,
and lymphatic systems, nutrition, acupuncture, and cerebrospinal
fluid function. This system is called "applied kinesiology"
(kih-nee'-see-awl'-oh-jee).
Muscle
tests are applied to different areas of the body in a manner
that evaluates a specific muscle. You will note from your
examination that some  muscles
test strong and others appear extremely weak - perhaps the
same muscle functions well on one side and poorly on the other.
The "weakness" indicates not only poor muscle function,
but also possible trouble with the organ and other tissue
on the same nerve, vascular, and nutritional grouping. Further
evaluation by the doctor reveals the "controlling"
factor that might be at fault. If correction is successful,
there will be a remarkable improvement in the muscle test.
Since
nerves control body functions, including all the major systems,
it is essential that a doctor be able to evaluate all the
nerves in the body. For many years it has been easy for doctors
to generally evaluate the peripheral nervous system, which
controls muscles and elicits sensations such as hot, cold,
deep touch, and soft touch. Applied kinesiology gives a doctor
added ability to evaluate function of the nervous system,
which controls organs, glands, and other tissues. This information
is combined with other diagnostic findings to enhance the
examination. The illustration above is a schematic one showing
how a nerve (or some other controlling factor) branches to
control the psoas muscle and also the kidney. Actually, the
common patterns of control are much more complex than this
illustration indicates. The "neuronal pools" or
meridian system may be involved, as well as many other factors.
The muscle involvement provides the chiropractor with an opportunity
to determine when the nerve or some other factor is returned
to normal and the body is "turned on."
Therapy
Localization
During
the course of your examination, the doctor may test a muscle
and then have you place a finger or hand in a certain spot.
S/he will then re-test the same muscle; sometimes there will
be a remarkable change in its apparent strength. What the
doctor is doing is using your hand to stimulate nerve receptors,
or otherwise add or subtract energy in different centers.
By so doing, one is able to obtain additional information
that might indicate abnormal function. These tests, along
with other clinical findings, help indicate the most effective
treatment. 
Structural
Balance
The
illustration shows how the muscles support joints and give
them stability. If the muscles of one side of the knee or
lower back are not functioning properly, there may be joint
instability. This may cause joint fatigue, pain, easy injury,
and - eventually -joint disease. Nearly all joints of the
body can be involved, including the entire spine, shoulders,
elbows, wrists, hips, and ankles.
Cranial Bone Movement
Until
fairly recently it was thought that the skull was a solid
mass primarily protecting the brain. In reality, there is
minute movement of a predictable nature between the bones
that is necessary for normal function of the nerves and spinal
fluid. Spinal fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord, providing
nutrition, lubrication, and hormone movement. A bump on the
head can jam the bones of the skull, causing abnormal or no
movement. Improper nerve function may result that can cause
problems in many organs or structures of the body.
There
are several methods for evaluating the function of the skull
in applied kinesiology. The doctor may test a muscle, press
on various bones of your skull in different directions, and
then retest the muscle. You may be asked to take a deep breath
and hold it, and then a muscle is re-tested to determine any
change. The doctor may have you touch various areas of your
skull while a muscle is tested. Dysfunction of the skull is
called a cranial fault. If one is found, a specific gentle
pressure, the direction of which is determined by examination,
will be applied to the skull, usually with a specific phase
of respiration. If the correction is successful, there will
be an immediate improvement of the previously poor muscle
test.
 Meridian
Therapy The
ancient Chinese developed a system of treating disease and
maintaining health that balances the energy in what are called
meridians. In modern times, acupuncture - or more accurately
"meridian therapy" - has proven a valld method of
treatment. Dr. Goodheart et al. have provided some of the
first advancements in this treatment in the Westem world.
By using applied kinesiology techniques, the flow of energy
in the meridians can be evaluated and corrected if off-balance.
Correction can be made by many methods of stimulation, such
as electrical, needles, small tape patches with metal balls,
or simply by touching certain spots. You will note an immediate
improvement in muscle function after meridian balancing.
Nutrition
and Adverse Chemicals
The
effect of nutrition and chemicals on health is not totally
understood. Modern science is making great
strides in furthering this knowledge. Examination to find
the cause of a health problem or to generally enhance health
should take many factors into consideration. Your doctor's
knowledge about you begins with observation. Hair and skin
quality, color of the whites of the eyes, feeling of glands,
organs, and muscles, and other observations offer initial
clues for further examination procedures. Laboratory examinations
or special tests may follow. In addition to these usual procedures,
your doctor may test various muscles before and after you
chew or inhale nutritional or chemical factors.
Nutritional
items, when chewed, stimulate the nerve endings in the mouth.
This may have an immediate effect on muscle function. For
example, if the muscle clinically associated with the liver
is weak and vitamin A is indicated for liver support, chewing
vitamin A or a carrot may cause immediate and dramatic improvement
of the muscle's function, as indicated by the manual muscle
test. Conversely, if a toxic chemical is causing a problem
in the liver, a muscle associated with the liver will test
poorly immediately after the substance is chewed or inhaled.
All
aspects of the examination should correlate and lead to the
final diagnosis and recommendation for treatment. Applied
kinesiology muscle tests for nutrition and chemicals do not
take the place of a complete, thorough examination; rather,
they augment it by evaluating how your body responds to the
substances being tested. This adds a functional evaluation
that takes into consideration the biochemical individuality
of people.
You
will be pleased with your doctor's addition of applied kinesiology
to his/her other diagnostic methods. It not only helps the
doctor determine the type of treatment needed, it also helps
both of you determine the progress being obtained. As your
treatment progresses, you will observe muscles that once functioned
poorly now test strong. This, of course, is because your body
is now functioning in a normal manner.
When
health is back to its maximum level, your doctor can use applied
kinesiology procedures to help you maintain it by finding
poor function and correcting the problem before symptoms develop.
From:
"Applied Kinesiology in Chiropractic Examination"
©1991 Systems DC, 275 West Abriendo Avenuw, Pueblo, CO
81004. All Rights Reserved
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