Dominic Stone
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, is a non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to evaluate a patient's health. It was first developed in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio patients. Since then, it has evolved into a diverse range of evaluation techniques, including PSYCH-K, Total Body Modification, BodyTalk, and Neuro-Emotional Technique. Chiropractors Florence and Henry Kendall developed a system of manual muscle testing in the 1940s, which inspired the work of George Goodheart, who founded Applied Kinesiology. Goodheart's technique is used to diagnose a range of issues and has grown in popularity over the last 30 years, with over one million practitioners worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | George Goodheart |
| Other Names | Kinesiology, Applied Kinesiology (AK) |
| Use | A diagnostic tool to uncover hidden problems |
| Basis | The human body knows what is wrong with it |
| Mechanism | Examines the Central Nervous System (CNS) as it controls when muscles turn on and off |
| Muscle Status | Weak or strong based on its ability to resist force |
| Muscle Imbalance | A combination of a ‘tight,’ over-active muscle and one that is ‘loose’ or less active |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Triggered by the work of Florence and Henry Kendall in the 1940s |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the work of Vladimir Janda in the 1960s |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the work of John Thie |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the work of Dr. Alan Beardall |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the work of Nelson |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the development of The Body Code System and the Belief Code |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Inspired the development of over 70 different techniques |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Used by over one million practitioners worldwide |
| Muscle Testing Revolution | Used by chiropractors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, neurologists |
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What You'll Learn
History of muscle testing
Muscle testing, or kinesiology, has evolved into a diverse range of evaluation techniques used by health practitioners worldwide. It is a simple, non-invasive assessment tool used during examinations and evaluations to gauge everything from general health status to specific supplement dosages.
The origins of muscle testing can be traced back to the early 20th century when it was first used to measure muscle weakness in polio patients. In the 1940s, physical therapists Florence and Henry Kendall developed a comprehensive system of manual muscle testing to evaluate disabilities. Their work inspired two doctors, including George Goodheart, a chiropractor in Detroit, who took their system and moulded it into a precise diagnostic tool, founding what is now known as Applied Kinesiology (AK). Goodheart observed that disturbances anywhere in the body led to changes in normal muscle contraction patterns, and so he focused on the nervous system's control of muscle function rather than just muscular power.
Goodheart's work sparked interest, and he began lecturing at conferences across America, taking on students and teaching them his methods. One of his students, John Thie, theorized that muscles tested differently depending on the stress they were under, and asserted that muscular symptoms were connected to imbalances in energy, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or nutritional issues. Another student, Dr. Alan Beardall, developed his own system of over 250 specific muscle tests to isolate major muscles in the body. He also developed the concept that the subconscious mind could express itself through muscle testing, with strong or weak responses correlating to 'yes' or 'no' answers.
Applied Kinesiology has continued to evolve, with practitioners like Richard Utt, who developed Applied Physiology, and American scientist Charles Krebs, who created the Learning Enhancement Acupressure Program (LEAP). Today, AK is used by approximately 40% of American chiropractors and over one million practitioners worldwide.
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Manual muscle testing
MMT was first developed in the early 20th century to measure muscle strength in polio patients. It was later adapted by chiropractor George Goodheart, who founded applied kinesiology, which is now often used in sports medicine. Goodheart discovered that balancing his patients' muscles could clear additional issues and identified associations between chiropractic techniques and Chinese medicine. He found that muscle testing could be a gateway to the nervous system, and his work led to the development of new muscle testing systems such as PSYCH-K, Total Body Modification, BodyTalk, and the Emotion Code.
MMT is the most commonly used method for documenting impairments in muscle strength. It is also used to evaluate weakness and can differentiate between true weakness, imbalance, or poor endurance. The most commonly accepted method of evaluating muscle strength is the Oxford Scale, also known as the Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing scale. This method involves testing 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.
There are other specific ways to test muscle strength. Distal strength, for example, can be measured with a handgrip ergometer or with an inflated BP cuff squeezed by the patient. This method requires specialized equipment, most commonly dynamometers. Dynamometry is a more precise measurement of the force a muscle can exert and can record differences in strength over time. Other tests for muscle strength include rising from a chair, stepping onto a chair (to test proximal leg strength), and walking on heels and tiptoes (to test distal strength).
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Muscle testing in kinesiology
During a muscle test, practitioners exert gentle pressure on specific muscles, one at a time, and patients are asked to hold or resist pressure in a specific direction. Muscles that "lock" against pressure are considered "strong", while those that \"unlock\" or struggle to resist are considered "weak". However, it is important to note that muscle testing is not meant to assess muscle strength per se, but rather to assess the nervous system's control over that muscle.
Despite the many uses of muscle testing in kinesiology, it is important to note that the science behind it has been widely disproven. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has stated that there is "no evidence of diagnostic validity" of applied kinesiology, and the American Cancer Society has said that "scientific evidence does not support the claim that applied kinesiology can diagnose or treat cancer or other illness". A 2001 study also found that muscle testing is no more helpful in diagnosing allergies than random guessing. As such, it is not advised to put trust in this technique when making important healthcare decisions.
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Muscle testing in sports medicine
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 was developed in the early 20th century to measure muscle strength in polio patients and was later adapted by chiropractor George J. Goodheart Jr., who founded applied kinesiology, which is now often used in sports medicine. Goodheart discovered that by balancing his patients' muscles, he could provide additional healing beyond chiropractic alignment. He identified associations between chiropractic techniques and Chinese medicine and found that muscle testing could be a gateway to the nervous system.
AK is based on the concept that for every action in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction, as stated in Sir Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion. This is applied 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. For example, during a test for food intolerance, a practitioner may place a vial with a trace of the food on or near the patient's body and ask them to push against their hand with a raised arm. If there is no issue, the push will be strong, and if there is an issue, it will be startlingly weak.
MMT is commonly used by chiropractors, physical therapists, and neurologists and has been shown to be a clinically useful tool. It is often used to evaluate muscle strength and can be effective in differentiating true weakness from imbalance or poor endurance. The most commonly accepted method of evaluating muscle strength is the Oxford Scale, which grades the patient's strength on a scale from 0 to 5. However, physiotherapists often use modified versions of this scale, such as dynamometry, which provides a more precise measurement of the force a muscle can exert.
While AK has been used by chiropractors for many years, the medical community has mostly rejected it as a diagnostic tool for conditions outside of the musculoskeletal system. A 2001 study found that AK was no more effective than random guessing in diagnosing allergies, and another study in the same year found that standard orthopedic or chiropractic muscle tests were not useful for diagnosing medical conditions. However, a 2023 study found that AK provided accurate results when used to measure sacroiliac dysfunction, and the evidence base for AK is expanding.
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Muscle testing in physical therapy
Muscle testing, also known as Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), is a clinically useful tool that is used in physical therapy to evaluate muscle strength and diagnose a range of issues. It is a method of diagnosis for spinal dysfunction and can be used to uncover hidden problems. The most commonly accepted method of evaluating muscle strength is the Oxford Scale, which involves testing key muscles from the upper and lower extremities against the examiner's resistance and grading the patient's strength on a scale of 0 to 5.
MMT is used by physical therapists, chiropractors, and neurologists to assess the maximum force a muscle is capable of generating. It is also used to differentiate between nerve root, peripheral nerve, and central nervous system lesions. The "break test" is the most commonly used procedure for MMT in physical therapy, where the subject is instructed to contract the tested muscle maximally against the examiner's resistance.
MMT has evolved into a diverse range of evaluation techniques, including PSYCH-K, Total Body Modification, BodyTalk, the Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code. Chiropractor Dr. Bradley Nelson developed the Emotion Code method in 2007, which has sold over 125,000 copies and started an international energy healing revolution.
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a specific type of MMT that uses submaximal forces and measures the neurological response to gradually increasing pressure. AK was founded by chiropractor George J. Goodheart Jr., who was interested in the connection between muscles and the nervous system. Goodheart's work built upon the research of Kendall and Kendall, and he found that he could provide additional healing beyond chiropractic alignment.
MMT has been the subject of a body of basic science and clinical research since its first peer-reviewed publication in 1915. While it has been shown to be a clinically useful tool, its ultimate scientific validation and application require further testing using sophisticated research models in neurophysiology, biomechanics, RCTs, and statistical analysis.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle testing was first developed in the early 20th century to measure muscle weakness in polio patients. It was later adapted by chiropractor George Goodheart, who founded applied kinesiology.
Applied kinesiology is a term used to describe the manual muscle testing diagnostics developed by Goodheart. Goodheart built on the work of Kendall and Kendall, who first developed a system of muscle testing to evaluate disabilities.
Muscle testing is a non-invasive assessment tool used by health practitioners to evaluate a patient's health. It can be used to assess general health status, specific supplement dosage, and almost everything in between.
Muscle testing works by applying force to a muscle or group of muscles. The muscle is then labelled "weak" or "strong" based on its ability to resist this force.
