The alternative medical discipline of applied kinesiology involves testing muscles as a way of diagnosing underlying medical conditions that can affect muscle function, mental well-being, and the body’s natural and delicate chemical balance. The practice has gained steam in recent years as it has helped many patients who have become disenchanted with traditional medicine or who are looking for an alternative practice to supplement their conventional care.
Applied kinesiology, or muscle testing, should never be confused with kinesiology, which is the study of human movement. Nor should applied kinesiology be confused with conventional orthopedic muscle testing because there are crucial differences between the two. Here is a brief introduction to applied kinesiology, how it works, and how it might benefit you.
What Is Applied Kinesiology?
George Goodheart Jr. was the first applied kinesiologist and the founder of the discipline. According to data, 43 percent of chiropractors incorporate applied kinesiology into their practices in some form.
Practitioners have developed several methods for muscle testing. One is the manual manipulation of joints to test muscle response. Other methods include acupuncture (the systematic pricking of the skin with tiny needles to stimulate a muscle response), myofascial therapies, and more. Many applied kinesiologists also heavily incorporate diet into their regimens, monitoring what they eat and analyzing how their muscles respond.
Identifying Underlying Issues
One of the main benefits of muscle testing is diagnosing underlying health issues. Poor circulation, cardiovascular issues, metabolism problems, and a number of other chronic health conditions can be identified using applied kinesiology. There are some conditions that can impact muscle testing and result accuracy. Subconscious thoughts and emotions can have an impact on testing, so multiple rounds may be necessary to get accurate results.
Triad of Health
Applied kinesiology is built upon the theoretical framework called the Triad of Health. The three pillars of the triad are chemical, mental, and structural. The visual depiction of the triad consists of a triangle with three sides equal in length superimposed over a human figure. This represents the equal importance of those three health factors existing in balance to achieve optimal health and muscle function. An experienced kinesiologist knows what imbalances to look for and, more importantly, how to correct them. The International College of Applied Kinesiology Board of Standards sets all standards of care related to the practice.
Alternative medicine sometimes gets a bad rap, but there are some alternative practices that can be very effective. Just make sure you do your research on them before trying them. If you are looking for an alternative to conventional medicine that has a proven history, consider consulting an experienced applied kinesiologist.
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