Athena Vale
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to gauge a patient's general health status, specific supplement dosage, and more. While it has grown in popularity, the technique has been criticized for its lack of conformity to scientific facts and inability to diagnose medical conditions. However, some studies have found applied kinesiology useful for certain purposes, such as measuring sacroiliac dysfunction. This type of muscle testing involves applying force to a muscle or group of muscles and labeling them as weak or strong based on their resistance. The topic of how to muscle test medications, including muscle relaxers, is of interest to many, especially those facing upcoming drug tests, as they want to know if these substances will be detected.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Muscle testing is used to gauge general health status, specific supplement dosage, and to detect neuromuscular abnormalities. |
| History | Muscle testing was first used in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio victims. |
| Development | In 1949, Kendall and Kendall, two physiotherapists, described specific ways to test individual muscles for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. |
| Techniques | Kinesiology-style muscle testing is estimated to be used in over 70 different techniques, including PSYCH-K, total body modification (TBM), BodyTalk, neuro emotional technique (NET), and emotional release technique. |
| Practitioners | Muscle testing is used by over one million practitioners worldwide, including chiropractors, nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and massage and physical therapists. |
| Accuracy | Muscle testing is considered to be inaccurate for diagnosing medical conditions such as organic disease or mental illness. However, a 2023 study found that applied kinesiology muscle testing provided accurate results for measuring sacroiliac dysfunction. |
| Limitations | Muscle testing has been described as "not conforming to scientific fact" and has been rejected by the medical community as a diagnostic tool for conditions beyond musculoskeletal disorders. |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle relaxants and drug tests
Muscle relaxants are not included in standard drug tests. However, certain chemicals in muscle relaxants may be tested for, so it is important to keep the detection window of your medication in mind. The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for the active substance to reduce in potency by half. The half-life of muscle relaxants varies depending on the specific drug and personal variables such as age, metabolism, and general health, liver and kidney function, dosage, and frequency of use. For example, the half-life of Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is around 18 hours, while the half-life of Carisoprodol (Soma) is approximately two hours. It is important to note that muscle relaxants can be habit-forming, and abrupt discontinuation after long-term use may lead to withdrawal symptoms. If you are concerned about how long a muscle relaxant will stay in your system or its potential effects on a drug test, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider.
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has emerged as a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by various health practitioners. It was first employed in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio patients, and later, chiropractor George Goodheart developed applied kinesiology to assess how well the nervous system controls muscle function. Despite its popularity, there is confusion about the term, how the test is used, and the interpretation of results. Additionally, research on its effectiveness has been challenging to design and interpret. While a 2001 study found that applied kinesiology was ineffective as an allergy test, a 2023 study showed promise in diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders and sacroiliac dysfunction.
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Kinesiology-style muscle testing
The basic principle of kinesiology-style muscle testing is that when there is some stress or abnormal nervous system input to a muscle, it weakens. During a muscle test, a practitioner applies force to a single muscle or group of muscles with a specific intention. The muscle is then labelled "weak" or "strong" based on its ability to resist this force. The meaning of a "strong" or "weak" test result can vary depending on the technique and application.
While applied kinesiology has shown promise in diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders, it has been largely rejected by the medical community as a diagnostic tool for conditions in other body systems. Some studies have found that experienced practitioners of applied kinesiology were able to accurately predict muscle strength and determine the truth of spoken statements. However, other studies have shown that applied kinesiology could not predict nutritional needs, nutritional intolerance, thyroid dysfunction, or chiropractic subluxation detection and correction.
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Muscle testing for allergies
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK), is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate the body's reaction to various substances. It is based on the premise that our muscles can indicate our health status, including potential allergies. During a muscle test, a practitioner applies force to a muscle or group of muscles while the patient holds a potential allergen. If the muscle weakens under pressure, it is inferred that the patient may be allergic to the substance.
AK was introduced in the 1960s by chiropractor Dr. George Goodheart, who was interested in how well the nervous system controlled muscle function. The technique is used by approximately 40% of American chiropractors and has also been adopted by other health practitioners, including nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and massage and physical therapists.
While muscle testing can provide insights into the body's reaction to certain substances, it is important to note that it is not recognized as a scientifically proven method for allergy testing. Traditional allergy tests, such as skin prick tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges, remain the gold standard in diagnosing allergies. Muscle testing has been found to be no more effective in diagnosing allergies than random guessing in some studies.
Despite the lack of scientific validation, muscle testing for allergies continues to gain popularity as a simple, non-invasive assessment tool. It can be used to test for food allergies, household items (such as laundry detergent or soap), environmental allergies, and supplements. However, it is crucial to remember that muscle testing should not replace conventional allergy tests, especially for allergies that may trigger severe reactions.
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Muscle testing for neuromusculoskeletal conditions
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has become increasingly popular over the last three decades. It is a simple, non-invasive assessment used by various health practitioners to evaluate a patient's general health status, specific supplement dosage, and almost everything in between.
Different professionals use muscle testing in different ways, leading to some confusion about the term, how the test is used, and what the results mean. This confusion has made it difficult to design and interpret research evaluating the usefulness of muscle testing.
Muscle testing was first used in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio victims. In 1949, Kendall and Kendall, two physiotherapists, described specific ways to test individual muscles for other neuromusculoskeletal conditions.
Chiropractor George Goodheart developed a technique called applied kinesiology (AK) about 15 years after Kendall and Kendall's work. AK is used to assess how well the nervous system controls muscle function. While the different types of muscle tests may look very similar, the reasons for performing them and the interpretation of the results differ significantly.
A 2001 study found that while some standard orthopedic or chiropractic muscle tests may be helpful for specific muscle-related weaknesses, they are not useful for diagnosing medical conditions such as organic disease or mental illness. However, the same study found that AK provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction.
The manual muscle test (MMT) has been offered as a chiropractic assessment tool to diagnose neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. However, there is ongoing controversy about the usefulness and reliability of the MMT for chiropractic diagnosis, and clinical guidelines are needed to resolve the confusion.
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Applied kinesiology
AK was developed by chiropractor George Goodheart in 1964 as a system of muscle testing and therapy. Goodheart was interested in how well the nervous system controlled muscle function. The technique is used by around 40% of American chiropractors, as well as by practitioners of other disciplines, including nutritionists, naturopaths, and massage and physical therapists.
In AK, a manual muscle test is conducted by having the patient use a target muscle or muscle group to resist while the practitioner applies force. The muscle is then labelled "weak" or "strong" based on its ability to resist this force. A smooth response is sometimes referred to as a "strong muscle", while a response that is not appropriate is called a "weak response". The basic principle of kinesiology-style muscle testing is that when there is some stress or abnormal nervous system input to a muscle, it weakens.
AK is also used to identify specific allergies by measuring a patient's muscle strength in the presence of a putative allergen. Typically, allergens are placed in closed containers that the patient holds in one hand while a technician estimates muscle strength in the opposite arm. A decrease in muscle power is said to indicate a positive test result. However, several studies have found that AK is no more useful than random guessing when it comes to diagnosing allergies or evaluating nutrient status. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Cancer Society, and other health organisations have advised against the use of AK in diagnosing allergies.
While AK has shown promise in diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders, it has been largely rejected by the medical community as a diagnostic tool for conditions in other body systems.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to gauge everything from general health status to specific supplement dosages.
During a muscle test, a practitioner applies force to a muscle or group of muscles with a particular intent in mind. The muscle is then labelled "weak" or "strong" based on its ability to resist this force.
Muscle testing was first used in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio victims. In 1949, Kendall and Kendall, two physiotherapists, described specific ways to test individual muscles for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Later, in the 1960s, chiropractor George Goodheart developed a new technique called applied kinesiology, which is used to assess how well the nervous system controls muscle function.
Examples of muscle testing techniques include PSYCH-K, total body modification (TBM), BodyTalk, neuro emotional technique (NET), and emotional release technique.
While muscle testing can be useful for specific muscle-related weaknesses, it is not effective for diagnosing medical conditions such as organic disease or mental illness. However, recent studies have shown promise in using muscle testing, specifically applied kinesiology, for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders.
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