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Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is a controversial alternative medicine practice. It is used to diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments, and to determine treatment methods. However, the validity of muscle testing has been questioned, with some studies showing that it is unreliable for evaluating a patient's health and should not be used for diagnosis. Proponents of muscle testing argue that it is a useful tool for promoting the therapeutic value of positive self-talk and detecting imbalances in the early stages. The debate surrounding the validity of muscle testing raises important questions about the role of scientific validation and the potential for psychological influences in diagnostic tools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT) |
| Type of practice | Alternative medicine |
| Purpose | To diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments |
| Scientific validation | Not yet scientifically validated |
| Use cases | To promote the therapeutic value of positive self-talk, to validate treatment methods, to detect imbalances in the early stages |
| Validation studies | Over 100 studies related to MMT and AK, including studies on the clinical efficacy of MMT in the diagnosis of patients with symptomatology |
| Limitations | Psychological influences, practitioner subjectivity, lack of comprehensive objective scientific analysis |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle testing as a diagnostic tool
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.”. This means that any internal issues may be accompanied by related muscle weakness.
However, muscle testing has been criticised for lacking scientific validation. To determine validity, one needs to be able to quantify the results and eliminate all psychological influences that may affect the conclusion. The results must also be consistently repeatable. It has been observed that people can psychologically affect the results of muscle testing, and that the same patients with the same health questions can get two entirely different answers from practitioners using various forms of muscle testing.
Despite this, some studies have found that muscle testing can be a clinically useful tool. For example, a 2023 study found that the applied kinesiology muscle test provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction. Observational cohort studies have also demonstrated good external and internal validity, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that MMT findings were not dependent upon examiner bias.
Muscle testing is also used in clinical psychotherapy to facilitate powerful results with traumas, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and many other mental health issues. It can be used as an adjunct tool alongside other methods of diagnosis and testing, helping to detect imbalances and blocks that play a significant role in mental health and emotional, mental, and interpersonal challenges.
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The validity of applied kinesiology (AK)
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a diagnostic technique widely used within the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) community. It is based on the idea that by testing muscles for strength and weakness, one can diagnose illness or choose treatments. AK is often used to evaluate nutrient status and food allergies, and it is claimed that any internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness.
However, the validity of AK as a diagnostic tool has been questioned by many studies. A double-blind, randomized study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 1988 concluded that "the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing." Similarly, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology stated that there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology for allergy testing. 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 the literature on manual muscle testing (MMT) and AK found evidence for good reliability and validity in the use of MMT for patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. The observational cohort studies demonstrated good external and internal validity, and the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed that MMT findings were not dependent upon examiner bias. However, the ultimate scientific validation and application of MMT require further testing using sophisticated research models in neurophysiology, biomechanics, and statistical analysis.
Despite the claims of its proponents, the existing evidence suggests that AK is not a valid diagnostic tool for evaluating nutrient status, food allergies, or other illnesses. While it may be a useful therapeutic tool for promoting the importance of positive self-talk, it should not be relied upon for medical diagnosis or treatment.
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Manual muscle testing (MMT)
MMT involves testing key muscles against the examiner's resistance and grading the patient's strength on a scale, commonly the Oxford Scale (or Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing scale), which ranges from 0 to 5. This scale helps to standardise the assessment and ensure consistency in the examiner's scores. The examiner must also follow a standardised protocol that specifies the patient's position, alignment of the muscle being tested, direction of the resisting force, and verbal instructions.
The validity of MMT has been questioned in certain cases. Some studies suggest that MMT may not be sensitive enough to measure strength in individuals with normal or good muscle strength. Additionally, there are concerns about the reliability of MMT across different examiners, with variations in clinical experience and expertise influencing the interpretation of results. However, observational studies have demonstrated good external and internal validity, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) indicate that MMT findings are not dependent on examiner bias.
MMT has been found to be particularly useful in patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction, providing valuable insights into the relationship between strength and disability. It can also be used to assess distal strength, such as grip strength, using specialised equipment like dynamometers. Dynamometry allows for precise measurements of muscle strength and can help quantify changes in strength over time.
While MMT has its advantages, it is important to recognise that muscle testing methods like applied kinesiology (AK) have been criticised for their lack of diagnostic value. AK, which is based on the principle of "for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction", suggests that internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness. However, studies have shown that AK is unreliable for assessing nutrient status and should not be used for medical diagnosis.
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Muscle testing and mental health
Muscle testing, or applied kinesiology (AK), is a technique used by various health practitioners to assess a patient's general health and specific supplement dosage. It involves applying force to a single muscle or group of muscles and judging their strength or weakness based on their ability to resist. While it is not considered a diagnostic tool, it can help patients understand their health better and guide their treatment process.
The basic principle of muscle testing is that when there is stress or abnormal nervous system input to a muscle, it weakens. A weak muscle is associated with dysfunction, chemical or structural imbalance, or mental stress, indicating suboptimal functioning. This is believed to be indicative of various stresses and imbalances in the body, including mental health issues.
Muscle testing is often used to complement clinical psychotherapy in treating traumas, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other mental health issues. It helps detect imbalances contributing to anxiety and stress responses, providing an easy, friendly, and non-triggering biofeedback test. For instance, a 2001 study found that muscle testing could accurately measure sacroiliac dysfunction, and a 2020 study supported these findings. However, it is important to note that muscle testing is not a standard diagnostic tool, and further studies are needed to establish its validity.
While muscle testing has grown in popularity, it is not widely accepted in the medical community due to a lack of standardised, reproducible results and rigorous scientific research. The American Cancer Society and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology have stated that there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology for treating cancer or diagnosing allergies. Additionally, the Australian Government's Department of Health review of alternative therapies in 2015 also found no clear evidence of the effectiveness of applied kinesiology. Therefore, while muscle testing may provide insights into mental health, it should be used cautiously and in conjunction with other diagnostic methods and standard medical practices.
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Muscle testing and holistic psychotherapy
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 or imbalances in the body will be accompanied by related muscle weakness. Thus, a muscle test can be performed to diagnose any underlying medical condition.
Despite its promise, muscle testing has been criticised as an unreliable tool for evaluating a patient's health. Multiple studies have demonstrated that AK has no diagnostic value. For example, a 1998 study by Kenney et al. found that AK is unreliable for assessing nutrient status. Similarly, a 2008 study by Bernstein et al. and a 2014 study by Schwartz et al. also concluded that AK should not be used for diagnosis.
However, muscle testing continues to be used by many healthcare professionals, particularly in the fields of chiropractic, naturopathy, and some forms of alternative medicine. Proponents of muscle testing argue that it can be a useful tool for demonstrating the importance of positive self-talk and for promoting therapeutic value. Additionally, muscle testing can be used as an adjunct tool alongside other methods of diagnosis and testing.
In the context of holistic psychotherapy, muscle testing is believed to provide a unique window into understanding health conditions and bridging the gap between symptoms and diagnosis. It is thought to allow practitioners to converse with the subconscious mind, bringing clarity to the patient, practitioner, and the treatment process. For example, muscle testing can help detect imbalances and blocks that contribute to anxiety and stress responses, offering a different approach to alleviate anxiety and panic attacks compared to traditional talk therapy.
While muscle testing may provide some benefits, it is important for patients to approach it with an open but critical mindset. Seeking out practitioners with credible qualifications and discussing the potential advantages and disadvantages of such techniques is essential.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is not considered a valid diagnostic tool by many medical professionals. It is often regarded as a pseudo-scientific practice that lacks scientific validation and reliability. However, some studies have found muscle testing to be useful in certain contexts, such as detecting imbalances in mental health and facilitating powerful results in psychotherapy.
Muscle testing is used as an alternative medicine practice to diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. It is based on the idea that any internal issues in the body are accompanied by related muscle weakness. Proponents of muscle testing believe that it can help determine the appropriate treatment methods and support recovery.
Muscle testing has been criticised for its lack of scientific validation and reliability. It is challenging to eliminate psychological influences and consistently repeat the results. The cost of conducting comprehensive studies with large test populations further complicates the process of validating muscle testing.
