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Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is a non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to evaluate a patient's health. It involves applying pressure to a patient's extended arm while they hold a supplement, food, or other substances to test their muscle strength in reaction to that substance. While muscle testing has grown in popularity, there is confusion and disagreement about its effectiveness and trustworthiness as a diagnostic tool. This paragraph will explore the topic of muscle testing, including its history, applications, and the ongoing debate surrounding its validity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Other names | Applied Kinesiology (AK), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Muscle Response Testing (MRT) |
| Definition | A non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to evaluate neuromusculoskeletal integrity |
| History | First used in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio victims; in the 1970s and 1980s, Goodheart and others developed a form of MMT called MRT |
| Uses | To diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments; to determine the state of organs and organ systems; to evaluate nutritional status and the need for supplementation; to detect imbalances in the meridians and chakras; to discover the presence of mental or emotional stress; to identify chemical sensitivities and allergies; to assess general health status and specific supplement dosages |
| Practitioners | Chiropractors, alternative medicine practitioners, and some physicians |
| Scientific basis | Based on the theory that muscles respond to electrical/energetic shifts in the body and that the body naturally reacts in congruence or incongruence to anything it's exposed to |
| Accuracy | Studies have found that muscle testing is no more accurate than random guessing for diagnosing allergies; other studies have found that experienced practitioners more accurately predicted muscle strength compared to inexperienced practitioners; other studies have found that muscle testing can accurately predict low back pain, simple phobias, and food allergies |
| Limitations | There is no standardization across different "gurus" and practitioners; muscle testing is not a part of the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body |
| Concerns | Muscle testing is unreliable for evaluating a patient's health and should not be used for medical diagnosis; it is not advised to put trust in this technique when making important healthcare decisions |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle testing's history and development
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is an alternative medicine practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. 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." AK applies this concept to the human body, suggesting that internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness.
The history of muscle testing can be traced back to the early 20th century when it was first used to measure muscle weakness in polio victims. Later, in the 1960s, chiropractor George Goodheart, considered the "father of AK", developed a new practice called Applied Kinesiology. Goodheart built upon the work of Kendall and Kendall, and his own experiences testing clients' muscles, to identify associations between chiropractic techniques and Chinese medicine. He found that certain "beneficial" physical stimuli, like vitamin supplements, increased the strength of specific muscles, while "hostile" stimuli weakened them. Goodheart's work suggested that the body is deeply affected by what is perceived to be "good" or "bad" for it.
Goodheart's technique gained popularity, and he lectured about it at conferences across America, attracting students who went on to develop their own methodologies and systems for testing. One of his students, Dr. Alan Beardall, created over 250 specific muscle tests to diagnose and evaluate structural, chemical, and mental aspects of health. Beardall discovered that specific hand positions could change the body's response to the muscle test, allowing for the discovery of deeper, underlying imbalances in the body's energy patterns.
Over time, muscle testing has evolved into a diverse range of evaluation techniques, including PSYCH-K, Total Body Modification, BodyTalk, the Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code, among others. These techniques are used by millions of practitioners worldwide, including chiropractors, natural practitioners, and energy healers. However, it is important to note that there is no standardization in muscle testing, and different practitioners may use it in varying ways, leading to confusion and difficulty in researching and interpreting its usefulness.
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Applied kinesiology's differences from kinesiology
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is an alternative medicine practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. However, it is important to differentiate between the science of kinesiology and the art of applied kinesiology. Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of body movements and is a recognised academic discipline with degree programs offered at colleges. On the other hand, applied kinesiology is a separate practice that is not part of the science of kinesiology.
The basic idea behind applied kinesiology is inspired by Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, which states, “for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Applied kinesiology applies this concept to the human body, suggesting that any internal issues would be accompanied by related muscle weakness. Thus, a muscle test can be performed to diagnose underlying medical conditions.
Applied kinesiology was developed by chiropractor George Goodheart, who was interested in how well the nervous system controlled muscle function. The technique involves testing specific muscles and differs from standard orthopedic muscle testing. While some studies have found applied kinesiology to be effective in certain areas, such as diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders and food allergies, it has been rejected by the medical community as a diagnostic tool for other conditions. The American Cancer Society, for example, has stated that "scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness".
In conclusion, applied kinesiology is a distinct practice from the science of kinesiology, and while it has its proponents, there is limited scientific evidence to support its effectiveness as a diagnostic tool for most conditions.
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Muscle testing's use in diagnosing allergies
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK), is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate the body's reaction to various substances, including potential allergens. 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." This concept is applied to the human body, suggesting that any internal issues would be accompanied by related muscle weakness. Thus, muscle testing is used to diagnose underlying medical conditions, including allergies.
During a manual muscle test, a practitioner applies pressure to a patient's muscle 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. However, it is important to note that muscle testing for allergies has not been scientifically proven and has shown inconsistent results in clinical studies. A 2001 study using muscle tests as an allergy test for wasp venom found that it was no more helpful in diagnosing allergies than random guessing.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence, muscle testing has grown in popularity over the last 30 years and is used by many different types of health practitioners. Approximately 40% of American chiropractors use AK, and it is also popular with chiropractors in the United Kingdom. In addition, other professionals such as nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and massage and physical therapists use muscle testing in their practices.
While muscle testing can provide insights into the body's reaction to certain substances, it should not replace conventional allergy tests. Traditional allergy tests, such as skin prick tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges, remain the gold standard in diagnosing allergies. These proven methods are essential for comprehensive allergy diagnosis, especially for allergies that may trigger severe reactions, such as horse or mold allergies.
In conclusion, while muscle testing has its proponents and is used by many practitioners, it is not currently recognized as a scientifically proven method for allergy testing. Until further research provides different results, it is not advised to rely solely on muscle testing for allergy diagnosis or making important healthcare decisions.
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Muscle testing's use in detecting lies
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is a practice that claims to diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. It is based on the principle that any internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness. While it has grown in popularity, there is a lack of standardization in muscle testing, and it is not considered a part of the science of kinesiology, which studies human body movement.
Muscle testing has been used to detect lies or deceit, with the hypothesis that lying activates specific brain regions and increases stress, which may be reflected in muscle strength. One form of muscle testing, Muscle Response Testing (MRT), involves testing neural control in response to semantic stimuli, such as spoken lies. A study using MRT found that a muscle stayed "strong" after true statements and went "weak" after false statements. However, the lack of standardization and potential biases in MRT make it challenging to interpret results consistently.
Another study used grip strength dynamometry (DMT) to investigate if it could distinguish lies from truth. Participants were given a visual stimulus and instructed to lie or tell the truth, and their grip strength was measured. The results showed no significant difference in grip strength between truthful and deceitful statements, suggesting that DMT may not be effective for lie detection.
Neuroscientific research supports the idea that the brain works harder when lying, activating more brain regions than when telling the truth. This suggests that it may be more challenging for an individual to perform a physical task while lying. However, it is important to note that lying does not always induce guilt or stress, and some individuals may have learned to suppress their body's response to deceit.
While muscle testing for lie detection has shown promising results in some studies, further research is needed to establish its effectiveness and standardize the methodology. It is essential to approach these techniques with caution and not solely rely on them for important healthcare or diagnostic decisions.
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Muscle testing's reliability and validity
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has become increasingly popular over the last 30 years. It is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many health practitioners. It is used to assess a wide range of issues, from general health status to specific supplement dosages.
Muscle testing is also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT). AK is based on Sir Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion, which states that "for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction". This is applied to the human body, with the idea that any internal issues will be accompanied by related muscle weakness.
The validity and reliability of muscle testing have been the subject of numerous studies. A literature review on the reliability and validity of MMT found that the clinical experience and expertise of the examiner influenced the usefulness of the data. The examiner must follow a standardized protocol that specifies the patient's position, the alignment of the muscle being tested, the direction of the resisting force applied, and the verbal instructions given to the patient. Florence et al. (1984) found that examiners with more clinical experience and training in MMT had more consistent scores.
Another review of the literature on MMT found that it has been used to document strength in patients with various diseases and disorders, including low back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, neck pain, post-polio syndrome, and muscular dystrophy. The review also found that MMT has been shown to be a clinically useful tool for assessing the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. However, the ultimate scientific validation and application of MMT require further testing using sophisticated research models in neurophysiology, biomechanics, RCTs, and statistical analysis.
There is some evidence that muscle testing can be a valid and reliable tool for certain assessments. For example, a 2023 study found that applied kinesiology muscle testing provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction. Additionally, a study on kinesiology-style muscle testing found that a muscle stayed "strong" after a patient spoke true statements and went "weak" after false statements. Other studies have found that kinesiology-style muscle testing can accurately predict low back pain, simple phobias, and food allergies.
However, it is important to note that muscle testing has limitations and should not be solely relied on for making important healthcare decisions. A 2001 study found that muscle testing is not useful for diagnosing medical conditions such as organic disease or mental illness. Another study from the same year found that muscle testing was no more helpful in diagnosing wasp venom allergies than random guessing. The medical community has largely rejected the idea of AK as a diagnostic tool for conditions outside of musculoskeletal disorders.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle testing, or applied kinesiology (AK), is a non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to evaluate neuromusculoskeletal integrity. It involves applying pressure to a patient's extended arm while they hold a supplement, food, etc. and observing whether the patient can resist the pressure.
Muscle testing is based on the theory that any major muscle will respond to electrical/energetic shifts in the body. The body is believed to react in congruence or incongruence (match or mismatch) to anything it is exposed to. The test is considered a "match" if the patient can resist the pressure, and a "mismatch" if they cannot.
Muscle testing is generally considered to be an unreliable tool for evaluating a patient's health. Multiple studies have demonstrated that AK has no diagnostic value. However, it has been found to be useful in demonstrating the importance of positive self-talk.
There are various types of muscle testing, including manual muscle testing (MMT) and muscle response testing (MRT). MMT is used by health care providers to evaluate a patient's muscle strength, while MRT is used to test neural control.
