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Applied Kinesiology (AK)

What is applied kinesiology?

Applied kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnosis that uses muscle testing as a method of examining how a person’s body is functioning.  When properly applied, an AK diagnosis can help determine the best form of therapy and treatment for a patient.  Since AK draws together the core elements of many complementary therapies, it provides an interdisciplinary approach to health care. 

In general, the applied kinesiologist finds a muscle that tests weak and then attempts to determine why that muscle is not functioning properly.  The practitioner then evaluates the condition and applies the therapy that will best eliminate the muscle weakness and help the patient. 

Therapies utilized can include specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management and various reflex procedures.

In some cases, the examiner may test for environmental or food sensitivities by using a strong muscle to test it in a manner that can uncover weakness that point to specific sensitivities that may be affecting the patient.

Applied kinesiology uses the "Triad of Health" - which sees a person's health as a balance of structural, mental, and chemical factors in the body.  When a person experiences poor health, it is due to an imbalance in one or more of those three areas.

A health problem in one part of the Health Triad can affect the other areas as well.  For example, a chemical imbalance in the body might cause symptoms affecting mental health or structural health.

Applied kinesiology enables the practitioner to evaluate the triad’s balance and direct therapies right to the source of the imbalance.

It takes hundreds of hours of study and years of practice to perfect the multitude of diagnostic techniques that have been developed in AK.  In fact, any Applied Kinesiologist will tell you that they are constantly refining and developing their manual muscle testing skills and diagnostic techniques.

Muscle testing appears, at its surface, easy and fascinating.  The ability to properly and effectively test muscles, however, requires more than 100 hours of classroom study and practice to effectively learn specific techniques, sensitivity, and objectivity.  Interpreting the results of muscle testing takes years of training and AK is only taught to those licensed to diagnose in the health care field, including Doctors of Chiropractic.