What is APPLIED KINESIOLOGY? (As defined by the ICAK)
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing combined with other standard methods of diagnosis. AK, a non-invasive system of evaluating body function that is unique in the healing arts, has become a dynamic movement in health care in its relatively short existence.
The combined terms “applied” and “kinesiology” describe the basis of this system, which is the use of manual muscle testing to evaluate body function through the dynamics of the musculoskeletal system. Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counselling skills, evaluating environmental irritants and various reflex procedures.
The AK symbol includes an equilateral triangle, with each side labeled with one of the three basic causes of health problems, referred to as the Triad of Health. They are structural, chemical, and mental, with structure as the base of the triad. Literally, all health problems, whether functional or pathological, are involved with one part or all parts of the triad. This is not new to chiropractic, as its founder, D.D. Palmer states in his text, “The Science, Art, and Philosophy of Chiropractic,” “The determining causes of disease are traumatism, poison and autosuggestion.” AK enables the doctor to evaluate the triad's functional balance and direct therapy toward the imbalanced side or sides. The physician who is aware of the triad of health, and evaluates every patient for all three sides, increases his ability to find the basic underlying cause of a patient’s health problem. AK skills are developed and approved by the International College of Applied Kinesiology Board of Standards. These skills are refined from many disciplines including Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Medicine, Dentistry, Acupuncture, Biochemistry, Psychology, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy etc. Members of these professions share knowledge through the publications and conferences of the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK).
Applied Kinesiology
"Your patients will make you the complete doctor if you let them"
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The body heals itself by primary intent. It heals itself in a sure, sensible, practical, reasonable, and observable manner. The healer within can be approached from without. Man possesses a potential for recovery through the physiological homeostatic innate intelligence of the human structure. This recovery potential, with which he has been naturally endowed, and which is his natural birthright, merely waits for the trained hand, the knowing mind, and the caring heart of the trained individual to bring it to physical manifestation, allowing health to come forth; this is man's natural heritage. It allows the same force which created the body to heal the body and allow it to operate unimpeded. This benefits man, both individually and collectively, and also the physician or therapist who has rendered the service. --George Goodhart, Jr. DC, FICC Diplomate, ICAK, and founder of Applied Kinesiology.
Kinesiology: n. The study of muscles and their movements, esp. as applied to physical conditioning. [Gk. kinesis, movement (kinein, to move) + -logy.] Kinesiologists--those who discourse on movement--combining anatomy, the science of structure of the body, with physiology, the science of function of the body, to produce kinesiology, the science of movement of the body. The human brain is a wondrous computer, linked with a universal energy field, that knows far more than it knows it knows. Kinesiology is a well-established science of communicating with another person's nervous system or "database of consciousness," by testing an all-or-none muscle response to stimuli. The kinesiologist uses the muscle tests to find the imbalances, tensions and blockages in the body, then makes corrections and rebalances the nervous system, then finally tests the muscles again to verify changes. Kinesiology is showing enormous success in dentistry, chiropractic, and allopathic medicine, and is now being used to observe the tooth-body connection. The kinesiologic response reflects a capacity of the human central nervous system to differentiate between life supportive and life-destructive patterns, to distinguish positive from negative stimuli, anabolic (life-enhancing) from catabolic (life-consuming) and, most dramatically, true from false. It is also possible to test a person's intolerance and stress to things in the environment, i.e. over-sensitivity reactions (physical and mental). All attitudes, thoughts and beliefs are connected with various acupuncture energy meridians, to all of the body's organs, including the teeth.
Specific acupuncture points are linked with specific attitudes, and the meridian, which serve, in turn, as the energy channel to specific muscles and body organs. If you hold a negative thought in mind, a very specific muscle will go weak; if you replace the thought with a positive idea the same muscle will instantly go strong. Kinesiology can tap into the inner wisdom that can discriminate healthy from unhealthy, and can discriminate true from false. Ideological validity can be appraised as an innate quality in any subject. The connection between mind and body is immediate, so the body's responses shift and change from instant to instant in response to one's train of thought and emotions. All that is really necessary is to expose oneself to a high-energy field and one's inner attitudes will spontaneously begin to change. A disease process is evidence that something is amiss in the workings of the mind, and that is where the power to effect a change resides. Treating an illness as a physical process only, does not correct the origin of the dysfunction and is palliative rather than curative. When the mind is dominated by a negative worldview, the result is a repetition of minute changes in energy flows to the various organs. The subtle field of physiology is affected in all of its functions, mediated by electron transfer, neural hormonal balance, nutritional status, etc. Eventually, an accumulation of minute changes becomes discernible through measurement techniques such as electron microscopy, magnetic imaging, X-ray or biochemical analysis. But by the time these changes are detectable, the disease process is advanced in its self-sustaining resonances.
The invisible universe of thought and attitude becomes visible as a consequence of the body's habitual response. It is the persistence and repetition of the stimulus, which results in the observable disease process. The stimulus that sets off the process may be so subtle that it escapes detection. Physical and mental health are attendant upon positive attitudes, whereas ill health, both physical and mental, is associated with such negative attitudes as resentment, jealousy, hostility, self-pity, fear, anxiety, etc. Chronic immersion in these emotions results in physical or mental ill health and a gross weakening of one's personal power. Physiologically speaking, with attitude, one chooses between anabolic endorphins or catabolic adrenaline. It is possible for a lifelong affliction to heal rapidly with a mere shift of attitude; but though this shift may seem to have occured in a split second, it may have taken years of inner preparation. Unless the basic attitude, which is causing the energy imbalance, is corrected though, the illness tends to return.
Dr. George Goodheart
In 1964, Dr. George Goodheart, a
Structure has a great influence on function. Goodheart postulated that human functioning is a triangle of chemical, emotional, and structural factors. The emphasis in alternative medicine is usually on chemistry (nutrition, herbs, etc.) or emotions (mind body therapies, etc.) but rarely on structure. Mechanical therapies such as chiropractic, massage, etc. are accepted for musculoskeletal complaints but not for more advanced disease states the way nutrition is. The applied kinesiology correction of bodily mechanics often has a dramatic effect on many disease processes, including chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, flu, recurrent respiratory infections, ulcerative colitis, sciatica, lumbar disc syndrome, TMJ syndrome, vertigo, post traumatic stress disorder, allergies, amennorhea, menorhagia, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
Holistic medicine through applied kinesiology has a wide application. George Goodheart demonstrated that chiropractic physicians could positively and confidently affect a wide range of disorders, as seen above, with special interest in spinal problems as well. Goodheart taught his students to be inclusive, not exclusive. Goodheart added many chiropractic, osteopathic, and traditional techniques to AK including SOT, trigger point therapy, acupuncture, cranial osteopathy, positioning by release, Rolfing, neurovascular, neurolymphatic reflexes, etc. He taught "What you're down on, you're not up on." He taught having a wide interest in all fields of medicine, not just chiropractic.
George introduced acupuncture into applied kinesiology in 1969, and made many original observations relating acupuncture to chiropractic. He developed numerous new methods to monitor the meridian system. In the late 60's, Goodheart was teaching old and new, innovative cranial techniques. He emphasized the importance of nutritional supplementation early on and helped introduce the concepts of Abram Hoffer and orthomolecular medicine to a chiropractic audience.
Dr. Goodheart has always emphasized the primacy of muscle function. He taught that muscles move bones, bones don't move muscles. Although appreciating the importance of chiropractic manipulation, he downplayed the idea that the manipulation needed to be repeated dozens of times. By properly balancing muscle function, the patient regains proper alignment much sooner. A real applied kinesiologist tests many, many different muscles, not just one "arm muscle test."
“Treat the patient that has the disease, not the disease that has the patient.” Standard, undeviating protocols for specific diseases are the ideal in orthodox medicine, with no consideration of individual needs. Although biochemical individuality is a common trend in alternative medicine today, AK was developed as a system to specifically address each patient as an individual. "Fix what you find" by using muscle testing instead of applying the identical treatment to every patient.
He taught students to “Build bridges between the professions, not burn them.” Not too long ago, no MD would even talk to an alternative practitioner. Now, Blue Cross no longer considers chiropractic "alternative," Andrew Weil's website recommends chiropractic, and the AMA now allows its members to fraternize with chiropractors. George Goodheart was the first chiropractor to speak at medical schools and dental schools all over the world, get interdisciplinary referrals, and the first officially invited chiropractor at the Olympics. George connected Chiropractic with the medical, dental, psychological, and sporting professions.
He said, “You only get to keep what you give away.” Dr. Goodheart shared his wide range of knowledge unhesitatingly. He inculcated the attitude that good ideas were from God, and it was a holy duty to share them. He published prodigiously, techniques used now by many. George taught that the healing arts are an opportunity to share, not just a "job." "If you catch fire about something, people will come from miles around to watch you burn."
The Triad Of Health
The triad of health displays the three basic causes of health problems. They are structural, chemical, and mental, with structural as the base of the triad. Literally, all health problems, whether functional or pathological, are involved with one part or all of the triad. The physician who is aware of the triad of health, and evaluates every patient for all three sides, increases his/her ability to find the basic underlying cause of a patient's health problem. Unfortunately, most professionals in the health care system do not thoroughly evaluate for influences of the different aspects of the triad on the patient's chief complaint. Rather, they tend to stay on the side of the triad associated with their specialty. Each side of the triad is represented by one or more specialties in both natural health care and allopathic medicine.
Often, individuals in a specialty attempt to influence the other two sides of the triad by treatment in their area of expertise, creating a lopsided triangle. The efforts may be symptomatically effective, but they often do not give attention to the basic underlying cause of the patient's chief complaint.
Interplay Between Sides
Throughout applied kinesiology, the triad of health is an important principle evaluated in all types of conditions. It is of paramount importance because nearly all conditions, especially chronic ones, involve all three sides of the triad. The physician must consider all possibilities so that s/he is not treating secondary effects rather than primary causes. Almost always, the more chronic a condition, the more involved it is with the three sides of the triad. Even a simple acute condition, such as a sprained ankle--which is obviously structural only--can ultimately affect other structures throughout the body if not treated correctly, and eventually affect the chemical and mental sides of the triad. Treating the sprained ankle correctly entails follow-up evaluation for structural balance and normal nerve function in the foot after the obvious tissue damage from the sprain has been repaired.
The Stomatognathic System
The term stomatognathic usually refers to the mouth and jaw. Here we are looking at a more comprehensive unit and refer to the stomatognathic system, which includes components of the bones of the skull, the mandible, the hyoid, the clavicle and the sternum; the muscles and the ligaments; the dentoalveolar and the temporomandibular joints; the vascular, the lymphatic and the nerve supply systems; the soft tissues of the head; the teeth; the spinal column and the pelvis. The stomatognathic area can potentially influence the cranial primary respiratory mechanism in either a positive or a negative way, and the converse is true; the cranial primary respiratory mechanism is capable of influencing the stomatognathic area in either a positive or a negative way. The two are inseparable entities. The stomatognathic system interacts with total body function.
There is much disagreement and lack of general knowledge among physicians about the stomatognathic system. One of the major reasons for the controversy is that there are usually no organic findings in most stomatognathic disturbance. Most physicians are trained primarily to differentiate and treat pathological problems. Those who think in terms of functional disturbances are more likely to look for and ultimately treat the functional type of disturbances found in the stomatognathic system. The structures within the stomatognathic system interact, and a disturbance in one area can, by a domino effect, create a great many additonal disturbances. Often the secondary factors are treated rather than the primary condition. Unfortunately, many who specialize in the treatment of these disturbances have a concept that there is one primary cause of the condition and fit most patients into that slot.
Because of the great amount of interaction within the system, the kind of condition the physician usually treats may be found, but it may not be the primary condition. It is important that a thorough examination protocol be developed, taking into consideration the wide range of etiologic factors in stomatognathic conditions. The patient, recognizing a symptomatic pattern, often chooses his own diagnosis and treatment with his selection of a physician. Treatment may include occlusal therapy, cervical or cranial manipulation, medication, psychological counseling, biofeedback, surgery, etc. One of these therapies may actually be appropriate for the patient, but it should be the job of the physician consulted as the primary care provider to diagnose the condition and determine the approach needed for its correction. Since no profession is capable of providing all the potential therapies that might be needed, consultation and referral are often the duty of the primary care physician. It is important to emphasize again that very often the symptomatic pattern presented by the patient is an effect rather than the primary cause; in fact, sometimes the patient's symptoms are iatrogenic, stemming from the treatment for some other condition. The stomatognathic system can be evaluated very effectively with applied kinesiology.
Muscular imbalance, which develops from occlusal disturbances, can ultimately involve the whole body. First it is important to understand that the jaw-closing muscles of mastication are part of a closed kinematic chain, and contribute to the chain from the mandible to the skull. The mandible, in turn, is anchored to the shoulder girdle by the supra- and infrahyoid muscles. The neck and head extensor muscles contribute to the posterior portion of the chain. Muscle hypo- or hyper-tonicity in any link of this chain disturbs its balance, and a vicious circle may develop. It may start as a result of TMJ disturbance, which causes muscle contraction, and pain of muscular contraction produces further muscle contraction over the short reflex arc, and this contraction, in turn, increases pain and furthers more contraction. This inappropriate muscle contraction causes reactions in remote areas of the body by way of stimulating the muscle’s neuromuscular spindle cell and, depending on the location of the muscle, possibly equilbrium proprioceptors; the vicious circle begins.
Information about the inappropriate muscle contraction is sent by the afferent system, which causes reaction in another muscle. The reaction becomes an action that sends information to cause an additional reaction. The far-ranging effects of the disturbance in the closed kinematic chain can go on and on. Not only are the equilibrium proprioceptors of the cervical spine and head-balancing muscles involved, the hyoid muscles are very important in the equilibrium and centering of the body. The hyoid and its associated muscles work like a gyroscope in the body. Disturbance in the stomatognathic system can influence structure throughout the body. The question should arise as to whether malocclusion is the primary cause of disturbance in the stomatognathic system, or if it is secondary. The orthopedic influence points out that the TMJ syndrome can be caused by postural imbalance.
A short leg or a pelvic disturbance can create secondary imbalances in the stomatognathic system. The influence may be to the neck and head extensors--one area of the closed kinematic chain--ultimately causing imbalance in the temporomandibular joint. Strachan and Robinson, at the Chicago College of Osteopathy, were the first to observe a short leg's influence on malocclusion. Evaluationg the pattern of masticatory muscles by electromyography, they removed a three-eights inch heel lift from a standing subject's shoe and found an altered firing sequence of the muscles of mastication during chewing. When the lift was worn, the muscles showed the firing pattern of normal occlusion; with it removed, the firing pattern was one of a severe malocclusion.
The healing powers of nature rest upon balance and the restoration of balance, and whenever and wherever man has interfered with that balance, he has paid the penalty. Total structural balancing is a priority in the applied kinesiology approach to the stomatognathic system. The interrelationship of the stomatognathic system with the rest of the body does not have to correlate with jaw function and occlusion. In some cases, the only evidence of trouble is pain. Cranial nerves V, VII. IX, and X are all involved in some way. The tongue can become the seat of referred pain from a distant source of irritation in any organ innervated by the trigeminal, facial, vagus, or glossopharyngeal nerve. The primary cause may be remote from the site of the symptom. This is true whether the direction of involvement is from the stomatognathic system to remote areas, or from remote areas to the stomatognathic system.
By using plethysmography on the digits of the feet and hands and by Doppler ultrasonic evaluation of arterial flow, improved circulation has been demonstrated after occlusal adjustment with a wax bite or with cotton roll supports. By thus changing the mandible's position, improved circulation was demonstrated on both the arterial flow and the capillary flow, indicated by the Doppler and the plethysmograph respectively. Influence of the stomatognathic system on general body function can be seen by its influence on muscle function as observed by manual muscle testing. This was originally demonstrated clinically by Goodheart. Many in the dental profession have used applied kinesiology procedures to evaluate the stomatognathic system. Some have done a very credible job of applying this system in the dental field. It is necessary to have a good working knowledge of manual muscle testing; a great number of errors can potentially develop as a result of its improper use.
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