Applied Kinesiology

Applied Kinesiology was developed by Dr. George Goodheart, DC.

Goodheart began to observe and explore muscle monitoring techniques in the mid 1960’s. He discovered that each major muscle had a corresponding organ relationship. Through his work, Goodheart observed that each large muscle in the body correlated to a body organ. A weakness in a muscle may mean that there is a problem in the associated organ. Goodheart found that by treating the muscle and making it strong again, he was able to improve the function of the organ as well.

Applied Kinesiology is a form of muscle strength resistance testing that is based on the founding principles that the body is a highly integrated system and that there is an strong physical connection and network throughout the body linking muscles to the glands and organs. Nothing exists in the body as independent from the whole.

Applied Kinesiology is a form of functional biomechanical and neurologic evaluation. It is an incredible tool used in the assessment of muscular function to evaluate muscles as a primary feedback mechanism in examining how well an individual’s body is functioning and reasons why the muscles are testing as weak.  Applied Kinesiology works directly through accessing the muscular feedback loop from your body whilst applying specific forms of muscle testing.

The philosophies and concepts of AK are based on a mergence of other proven alternative holistic therapies such as osteopathic, chiropractic and meridian system therapy.  All these modalities share and respect the interwoven networks of the body's systems as highly ordered and interconnected beings.

During a session, specific muscles are stress tested. The strength of a specific muscle is said to be related to the health of a particular organ or area of the body being tested. The reason that muscle testing works so well is that the musculature of the body represents a natural feedback system. This feedback loop acts as a precision indicator with information supplied by the nerve pathways and energy meridians throughout the body.

Muscle monitoring techniques are applied to identify and correct energy blockages within the body. The basic theory here is that physical, chemical, nutritional, mental and emotional imbalances are associated with a muscle inhibition which usually precedes an over-facilitation of an opposing muscle.

Muscle weaknesses can manifest due to any physical or structural, chemical or emotional cause. Muscle tests are used to monitor the physiologic responses of the body to a physical, chemical, nutritional or mental stimulus.

Here we can test for specific nutrient deficiencies as well as disturbances to organ functions as it relates back to the neurological, vascular, lymphatic, cerebrospinal and meridian systems. 

Specific nutraceutical formulations and nutrient specific deficiencies can also be tested to determine if the individual is able to handle certain remedies and when to shift natural prescriptions to other remedies that may serve to act on differing governing levels within the body. 

It is also an adjunctive therapy used to assess if the nutritional deficiency has been corrected, or if the disturbing factors contributing to the muscle weakness have been corrected. AK also serves as an effective therapy useful for determining the best therapeutic approach for treating the injured athlete.

At Evolve Naturopathic Vitality Centre, the observed AK response is correlated with other clinical and physical exam findings, lab tests and any other appropriate standard diagnostic methods may be needed for quantitative assessments.