Logan Steele
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is a practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. It has grown in popularity over the last 30 years and is used by many health practitioners. However, there is ongoing debate about whether muscle testing is scientifically proven. While some studies have found that muscle testing can accurately predict certain conditions, other studies and organizations have refuted these findings, stating that there is no evidence of diagnostic validity. The lack of standardization in muscle testing and the potential for bias also make it challenging to scientifically validate this practice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Other names | Applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT) |
| Type of medicine | Alternative medicine |
| Purpose | To diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments |
| Scientific validation | Not scientifically validated yet |
| Use cases | Determining the state of organs and organ systems, evaluating nutritional status, detecting imbalances in the meridians and chakras, discovering the presence of mental or emotional stress, identifying chemical sensitivities and “allergies”, measuring muscle weakness in polio victims, diagnosing sacroiliac dysfunction |
| Limitations | No standardisation, subjectivity, practitioner bias, lack of reproducibility, lack of scientific rationale, high cost of research |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle testing is not scientifically proven
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 note that muscle testing is not the same as the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body.
Despite its growing popularity, muscle testing has not been scientifically proven. There has not been comprehensive scientific analysis with quantified data to validate muscle testing in any of its forms. While some studies have shown positive results, the amount of sound research on muscle testing is limited. The lack of standardization in muscle testing makes it challenging to evaluate its usefulness and draw conclusive scientific evidence.
For example, a 2001 study found that muscle tests were no more effective in diagnosing allergies than random guessing. Similarly, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology stated that there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology. The American Cancer Society also asserted that "scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illnesses."
Furthermore, muscle testing has been criticized for lacking a scientific understanding of the proposed underlying theory and for being unestablished or doubtful in its efficacy. The results of muscle testing have been shown to be influenced by the experience and bias of the practitioner, with some studies suggesting that experienced practitioners were more accurate in their predictions. However, the validity of muscle testing remains questionable, and further research is needed to draw conclusive evidence.
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Muscle testing is an alternative medicine practice
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. It is based on the idea that any internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness. Therefore, a muscle test can be performed to diagnose underlying medical conditions.
AK is not a part of the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body. 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.
There is some evidence to suggest that AK can be effective in certain situations. For example, a 2003 study found that the applied kinesiology muscle test provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction. Another study found that experienced practitioners were more accurately able to predict muscle strength compared to inexperienced practitioners. Additionally, other studies have found that practitioners were able to determine if a spoken statement was true significantly more accurately than guessing whether it was true.
However, there is also significant skepticism about the effectiveness of AK. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology stated that there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology. The American Cancer Society has also stated that "scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness." A review of several scientific studies concluded that "the evidence to date does not support the use of manual muscle testing for the diagnosis of organic disease or pre/subclinical conditions."
Overall, while there may be some potential benefits to AK, it is important to approach it with caution and rely on more established medical practices for diagnosis and treatment.
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Kinesiology is not the same as applied kinesiology
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many health practitioners to gauge everything from general health status to specific supplement dosages. It has grown in popularity over the last 30 years. However, it is important to distinguish between kinesiology and applied kinesiology (AK). Kinesiology is the scientific study of human movement and is not associated with AK.
AK is a pseudoscientific technique in alternative medicine that claims to diagnose illnesses or choose treatments by testing muscles for strength and weakness. It was developed by chiropractor George Goodheart in the 1960s and is based on the idea that fluctuations in muscle strength reveal patient sensitivities and needs. AK practitioners believe that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a weakness in a specific corresponding muscle, known as the "viscerosomatic relationship". Treatment modalities used by AK practitioners include joint manipulation, clinical nutrition, and dietary counselling.
The validity of AK as a diagnostic tool has been questioned by several studies. A 2001 study found that muscle tests were no more helpful in diagnosing allergies than random guessing. Another study by the ALTA Foundation for Sports Medicine Research concluded that "the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing." Additionally, the American Cancer Society has stated that "available scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness."
While some studies have found limited success in using AK to diagnose certain conditions, such as sacroiliac dysfunction, the medical community has largely rejected the idea of AK as a valid diagnostic tool. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) conducted a survey in 1998, finding that 43% of chiropractic offices in the United States used AK. However, the majority of practitioners in the survey were chiropractors, with other occupations, including nutritionists and massage therapists, also represented.
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Muscle testing is used to diagnose medical conditions
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many health practitioners. It is an alternative medicine practice that claims to effectively diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and psychological conditions through testing the strength of one's muscles. The basic idea behind muscle testing 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 means that any internal issues one may be experiencing would be accompanied by related muscle weakness.
Muscle testing is also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT). It differs from standard orthopedic muscle testing. For example, a person following AK principles may suggest that a patient's weak bicep is due to an underlying problem with their spleen. However, a person performing the muscle test following conventional medicine might suggest working out the biceps more at the gym.
Kinesiology-style muscle testing is used 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, and to identify chemical sensitivities and "allergies". It is estimated that this kind of muscle testing is used in over 70 different techniques and by over one million practitioners worldwide.
However, the science behind muscle testing has been widely disproven, and it is not considered a part of the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body. The amount of sound research on it is limited, and the medical community has mostly rejected the idea of AK as a diagnostic tool for conditions in other body systems. For example, a 2001 study using muscle tests as an allergy test for wasp venom states that it is no more helpful in diagnosing allergies than random guessing.
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Muscle testing is used to determine the state of organs
Muscle testing, or applied kinesiology (AK), is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used by many health practitioners. It is used to gauge everything from general health status to specific supplement dosages. It is also used to determine the state of organs and organ systems, to evaluate nutritional status, and to identify chemical sensitivities and allergies.
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 concept is applied to the human body, meaning that any internal issues would be accompanied by related muscle weakness. Thus, a muscle test can be performed to diagnose any underlying medical condition.
However, it is important to note that AK is not a part of the science of kinesiology, which is the study of the movement of the human body. There is limited sound research on the effectiveness of AK, and it has been described as "not conforming to scientific fact" regarding medical conditions and their causes or treatments. While some studies have found that AK can accurately predict food allergies, low back pain, and simple phobias, other studies have shown that it is not effective in predicting nutritional needs, nutritional intolerance, thyroid dysfunction, or chiropractic subluxation detection and correction.
Furthermore, a 2001 study found that muscle tests are not useful for diagnosing medical conditions such as organic disease or mental illness. However, a more recent 2023 study found that AK provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction. Despite this promising finding, the medical community has mostly rejected the idea of AK as a diagnostic tool for conditions outside of musculoskeletal disorders.
In conclusion, while muscle testing is used to determine the state of organs and organ systems, its effectiveness as a diagnostic tool is still debated, with limited research and conflicting findings. More studies are needed to fully understand the usefulness and limitations of AK as a diagnostic tool.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Muscle testing involves a practitioner applying downward pressure to a patient's arm while the patient tries to resist that pressure with one arm and hold a supplement, herbal, food, etc.
Muscle testing is not scientifically proven. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology stated there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology. The American Cancer Society has also said that "scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness".
Kinesiology-style muscle testing is used to determine the state of organs and organ systems, evaluate nutritional status and the need for supplementation, detect imbalances in the meridians and chakras, discover the presence of mental or emotional stress, and identify chemical sensitivities and “allergies”.
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