Dominic Stone
Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (AK) or manual muscle testing (MMT), is an alternative medicine practice used to diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. It is based on the idea that internal issues are accompanied by related muscle weakness. For example, a weak bicep could be caused by an underlying problem with your spleen. While muscle testing is not considered a scientific process, it has been used to diagnose a range of issues, including gut problems and food intolerances. There are several types of muscle tests, including the Oxford Scale, which grades muscle strength on a scale from 0 to 5, and electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to nerve stimulation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Applied Kinesiology (AK), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) |
| Purpose | To diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments |
| Test Type | Alternative medicine practice |
| Test Process | Patient lies on a table with their arm in the air. The practitioner then places a vial with a trace of the food on or near the patient's body, then asks the patient to push against their hand with their raised arm. |
| Test Score | Rated on a scale from 0 to 5 |
| Test Founder | George J. Goodheart, Jr. |
| Test Accuracy | Not considered the most scientific process |
| Test Use Cases | Diagnosing internal health issues, pinpointing areas of health to work on, measuring muscle strength in polio patients, diagnosing musculoskeletal structure issues, diagnosing sacroiliac dysfunction |
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What You'll Learn
Manual muscle testing (MMT)
MMT evaluates the function and strength of individual muscles or muscle groups in relation to gravity and manual resistance. A clinician will assess if a muscle is strong or weak via manual pressure and ask the patient to resist that pressure. The patient's strength is then graded on a scale from zero to five. The most commonly accepted method of evaluating muscle strength is the Oxford Scale, also known as the Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing scale.
MMT can be used to diagnose a range of issues, sometimes related to musculoskeletal structure. For example, a weak bicep could be the result of an underlying problem with the spleen. It is important to note that MMT is not considered a scientific process, and there is limited research to support its use. Critics are deeply skeptical of AK, and it is not widely practiced by doctors. However, it is still used by some chiropractors, nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and massage and physical therapists.
MMT can be performed at home, but it is not advised as it is unlikely to provide meaningful insights. Dynamometry is a more precise measurement of muscle strength, which can be measured with a handgrip ergometer or an inflated BP cuff squeezed by the patient. This type of testing provides a better picture of the relationship between strength and disability.
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Applied kinesiology (AK)
AK was founded by chiropractor George J. Goodheart, Jr. in 1964, who said he fixed a patient's chronic winged scapula (weak or paralysed muscles in the back) by pressing on nodules near the ribcage. The practice grew from there, with small studies trying to link the strength of muscles with the consumption of certain substances, such as fructose or glucose.
During an AK muscle test, the patient lies on a table with their arm in the air. A practitioner may place a vial with a trace of a food on or near the patient's body, then ask them to push against their hand with their raised arm. If the patient's push is weak, this may indicate an intolerance to the food.
However, it is important to note that AK has been widely criticised and is not considered a scientific process. A review of studies by the Australian Government's Department of Health in 2015 found no clear evidence of the effectiveness of AK. 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". Despite this, AK has shown promise in diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders, and there is evidence to suggest that it can provide accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction.
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Muscle strength testing
The most widely accepted method of muscle strength testing is the Oxford Scale, also known as the Medical Research Council (MRC) Manual Muscle Testing scale. This method involves assessing key muscles from the upper and lower extremities against the examiner's resistance and grading the patient's strength on a scale from 0 to 5. Commonly tested muscle groups include the shoulder abductors, elbow flexors, elbow extensors, wrist extensors, finger flexors, hand intrinsics, hip flexors, knee extensors, dorsiflexors, great toe extensors, and plantar flexors. Testing these specific muscle groups provides valuable information about the function of associated spinal nerve roots, aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular conditions.
Manual muscle testing (MMT) is another approach to evaluating muscle strength and function. It involves applying manual pressure to a muscle and asking the patient to resist that pressure. The clinician then assesses whether the muscle is strong or weak and grades it accordingly. MMT can be limited in its ability to assess nutritional needs or the presence of mental or emotional stress. Additionally, it is not recommended to perform MMT at home, as proper technique is essential to ensure valid and reproducible results.
In addition to manual testing, muscle strength can also be assessed through functional or mechanical methods. Functional assessment involves observing the patient's ability to perform various tasks or movements, such as rising from a chair or walking on heels and tiptoes, which provides insight into muscle strength and disability. Mechanical assessment utilizes specialized equipment, such as dynamometers, to measure the force exerted by a muscle more precisely, allowing for the quantification of strength deficiencies over time.
Electromyography (EMG) is a related procedure that measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to nerve stimulation. During an EMG test, small needles, or electrodes, are inserted into the muscle to record and display its electrical activity on an oscilloscope. This procedure helps detect neuromuscular abnormalities and diseases that damage the nerves and muscles. It is often performed alongside a nerve conduction study (NCS), which measures the electrical impulse through a nerve to determine nerve damage and destruction.
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Electromyography (EMG)
The history of EMG can be traced back to the 17th century when Francesco Redi discovered that a specialised muscle in the electric ray fish (electric eel) generated electricity. Over the following centuries, various scientists, including Walsh, Luigi Galvani, Emil du Bois-Reymond, Marey, and Gasser and Erlanger, contributed to the development of EMG. They demonstrated that electricity could initiate muscle contraction and that it was possible to record electrical activity during voluntary muscle contractions.
During an EMG test, an electromyograph is used to measure the electrical signals produced by muscles at rest and during use. A healthy muscle should not exhibit any electrical signals when at rest. However, if the muscle is damaged, it may show electrical activity even without any movement. The measured EMG potentials can range from less than 50 μV to up to 30 mV, depending on the specific muscle being tested.
EMG tests are often combined with nerve conduction studies to help diagnose muscle and nerve disorders. While EMG evaluates muscle response to nerve signals, nerve conduction studies examine the speed and efficiency of electrical signals travelling along nerves. Together, these tests can determine whether symptoms are caused by muscle or nerve disorders.
There are two main types of EMG: needle EMG and surface EMG. Needle EMG is an electrodiagnostic medicine technique commonly used by neurologists to detect fibrillations, which are individual muscle fibre activations resulting from nerve or muscle disease. Surface EMG, on the other hand, is a non-medical procedure used by professionals such as physiotherapists and biomedical engineers to assess muscle activation for various purposes.
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Nerve conduction study (NCS)
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are a non-invasive, outpatient examination that measures how quickly nerves conduct electrical signals through the body. It is a valuable technique for diagnosing nerve damage and finding its source. The patient is positioned comfortably on an examination table, and electrodes are placed on the skin at various locations. Mild electrical currents are sent into the body through stimulating electrodes, and these signals travel through the target nerve. After passing through the nerve, recording electrodes detect the signals, providing a precise measurement of the nerve's response time and strength to direct stimulation. This data helps physicians diagnose nerve dysfunction. Once the exam is complete, the electrodes are removed. NCS is a useful method for identifying nerve issues and offering insights for further treatment plans.
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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 diagnose structural, muscular, chemical, and mental ailments. It involves testing the strength of specific muscles to diagnose a range of issues, sometimes related to the musculoskeletal structure.
Muscle testing uses body points to diagnose internal health issues. It is based on the idea that any internal issues will be accompanied by related muscle weakness. For example, a weak bicep could be the result of an underlying problem with your spleen.
There are various types of tests used to examine muscles, including manual muscle testing (MMT), motor testing, muscle strength grading, and nerve conduction studies (NCS). MMT involves evaluating the function and strength of individual muscles or muscle groups against the forces of gravity and manual resistance. It is rated on a scale from zero to five. NCS, on the other hand, measures the amount and speed of electrical impulse conduction through a nerve, helping to determine nerve damage and destruction.
