This is a system of diagnosis based on muscle tensing.

It is a means of evaluating the structural, biomechanical and mental aspects of a patient. It employs manual muscle testing to complement other methods of diagnosis enabling the practitioner to assess the unique needs of each patient.

The patient is asked to sit or lie down and a muscle is selected for a good response. Once this is done, the practitioner can run through a series of tests or ‘questions’ to the muscle and the strength of the muscle will vary through a subconscious neurological switching. As an example, the practitioner may test the power in the muscle perhaps by gently pushing down on an outstretched arm and relate this to the problem area by getting the patient to touch a particular vertebra with their other hand. If this vertebral level is the origin of the patient’s problem then the muscle power will slightly weaken for a few seconds.

This is a simple example of applied kinesiology being used for diagnosing structural problems. It can be extended to examine people’s nutritional requirements or deficiencies, or to give an indication of their energy balances as understood in Chinese medicine, or as a help in assessing which homœopathic remedy is most suitable for the patient. It is also used by some dentists to help sort out occlusion problems.

As you can see from these examples, applied kinesiology is used for diagnosis of problems and for checking on how well treatment is progressing. It is not a treatment in itself but is a means of assessment and is used as such in conjunction with other usual methods of diagnosis to reach an overall picture of the state of the patient.

On the basis of the assessment, the patient may be treated with manipulation and soft tissue techniques or with cranio-sacral therapy. The particular therapy or therapies used are indicated by the patient’s innate responses to the muscle testing and the treatment will be augmented by advice on lifestyle to provide comprehensive individualised care for that patient.

This system was evolved thirty years ago in the United States by a chiropractor, George Goodheart after some unusual observations whilst he was treating a patient. Over the years he has developed this form of muscle testing so the it can now be integrated into manual medicine. It incorporates many techniques from osteopathy, here it is used: