Being asked to resist pressure exerted on a muscle by a complementary health practitioner may seem a strange way to get to the root of an illness. But this is what kinesiology is all about and its advocates claim that as well as increasing general well being, it can relieve all types of aches and pains, stress, digestive problems and emotional troubles such as phobias, anxiety and depression.
Kinesiology (pronounced kin-easy-ology) uses simple, gentle muscle tests to analyze functional imbalances in the body as well as sensitivities to food and toxic substances in the environment. It incorporates many of the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and, like acupuncture, works on the principle that illness is due to blocked energy (chi) in invisible channels, or meridians, running through the body.
Kinesiologists look at health from three viewpoints – chemical, structural and mental – each of which interacts with the other, and which together represent a whole, referred to as the triad of health.
For someone to be 100 per cent healthy, all three systems need to function well and in harmony. This interconnection can make finding the right treatment difficult.
For example, the obvious treatment for backache may be manipulation or painkillers, but if that person also has a poor diet and an unhappy love life, manipulation won’t necessarily result in a lasting cure. And this is where kinesiology comes into its own. Muscle testing enables the practitioner to find out which of the three systems is out of balance and to correct it accordingly. Kinesiologists believe each muscle correlates to a different circuit in the body. They access information about the different circuits by testing the various muscles. They can then use a range of gentle but powerful remedies such as massage and touching acupuncture points to free blocked energy, restoring balance and harmony.
How Does Kinesiology Work?
According to the principles of kinesiology, muscles, organs and glands are connected via a network of energy circuits and meridians. By testing muscle strength, a practitioner can evaluate the energy in the meridians and thus in the organs. For example, the pectoral muscle is said to be linked to the stomach meridian. If the pectoral muscle is tested and found to be weak, this could indicate an energy imbalance in the stomach circuit. A muscle’s energy circuit ‘turns off’ if an imbalance such as an injury or illness blocks a particular pathway.
The History Of Kinesiology
Kinesiology was developed by an American chiropractor, Dr George Goodheart, in the 1960s. Treating a patient who complained that his shoulder blade kept ‘popping out’, he found that if he pressed the points on the muscle where it was attached to the ribcage, the muscle became stronger. Further experiments revealed that when a muscle became weak, the corresponding muscle on the opposite side of the body tended to tighten, but correcting the weakness brought relief to the tightness. Goodheart developed a series of muscle tests, and so the basic principles of kinesiology evolved.
What Does Kinesiology Involve?
A kinesiologist will ask you about your medical history, diet, relationships, lifestyle and work. This will be followed by muscle-strength tests to check for imbalances in your body systems. One of the larger muscles, such as the thigh, is usually used as the ‘indicator’ muscle. Your therapist will ask you to hold your leg or arm in a certain position while they press against it. A strong muscle will ‘lock’ or resist the pressure, while a weak one will feel spongy and give way. They will then carry out muscle tests on both sides of your body, each time placing your arm or leg in a different position while applying light pressure. This enables them to find the areas of the body where the natural energy is disturbed and helps them work out the best treatment.
Kinesiology is often used to detect food sensitivity. The therapist will place a variety of suspect foods on your tongue, one by one, and test the strength of a related muscle each time. You may then be advised to avoid certain foods if they seem to be weakening your muscles, and to take supplements to help build up your energy.
Qualified kinesiologists do a minimum of two years’ training. Most tend to combine kinesiology with some other therapy, such as counseling, nutrition, osteopathy or chiropractic. So, when choosing a kinesiologist, try to find one whose skills are compatible with your complaint.
Can kinesiology do any harm?
No. Both the diagnostic methods and the treatment methods are completely safe.
Can I expect a kinesiologist to make a medical diagnosis?
A properly trained kinesiologist will neither aim nor claim to be able to make a medical diagnosis unless they are qualified to do so. Most people visiting a kinesiologist for the first time will have already received a diagnosis from their GP. If they have not already had one, then the therapist will recommend that they should ask their doctor to give one.
Are there any after-effects?
Most people find kinesiology relaxing and some report feeling lighter and more ‘clear’ after a session. However, some of the treatments work at a deep level, so you may feel sleepy or tired afterward. This is not a cause for concern as it just means that the body is going through the healing process.
Kinesiology Is Good For:
- Headaches
- Indigestion
- Stiff shoulders
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Backache
- Lack of energy
- Food sensitivity
Kinesiology:
AVAILABILITY – Limited
MEDICAL EVIDENCE – Sparse
MEDICAL ACCEPTANCE – Limited
SELF HELP – Not advised
