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See also: Kinesiology (academic)

Applied kinesiology (AK) is related to diagnostic kinesiology. It is a controversial method of medical diagnosis. It purportedly gives feedback on the functional status of the body. Proponents say that when properly applied, the outcome of an AK test, such as a muscle strength test, will provide for a low risk diagnostic method to help determine the efficacy of therapy for patients.

Applied kinesiology is classified with alternative medicine, and is therefore different from academic kinesiology, which is the scientific study of human movement and its application. Applied kinesiology has been called a pseudoscience. ^[1]

AK draws together many similar therapies. It attempts an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to health care. George J. Goodheart, D.C., a chiropractor, originated AK in 1964. ^[2] Subsequently, its use spread to other chiropractors, naturopaths, and a few medical doctors. In 1976, the International College of Applied Kinesiology ^[3] was founded.

Contents 1 Basic applied kinesiology 2 Science and AK 3 American Chiropractic Association statement 4 Danish Chiropractic Association position 5 References 6 Notable practitioners and theorists 7 See also 8 External links 8.1 Supportive 8.2 Critical

AK practitioners test muscles to determine physical health. AK patients have their muscles tested in many different functional positions, although the arm-pull-down test is the most common. Typically during the arm-pull-down test, AK patients lie down and raise their dominant arm. Next, the AK practitioner instructs the patient to resist as the tester exerts downward force on the subject's arm. The tester subjectively evaluates the force exerted by the subject to determine the strength of the muscle. This is supposed to give a baseline for further testing.

Because nearly all AK tests are subjective, many regard the practice with skepticism. The AK practitioner applies the pressure, but this practitioner is also the one who decides if one push is stronger than another. This is considered by some a conflict of interest: the AK practitioner will benefit if AK is perceived by the client as effective, but the AK practitioner is the one who actually determines how effective the practice has been, because he or she subjectively applies pressure to the patient's muscle or muscles. This weakness in the AK system allows for the possibility of fraudulent practice.

The arm-pull-down test is considered by the International College of Applied Kinesiology (I.C.A.K.) to be a very poor form of muscle testing. The arm-pull-down test involves so many different muscles that no specificity as to the muscle with the problem can be ascertained upon testing. Through evaluation of the function of specific muscles pre- and post-treatment throughout a patient's body, therapeutic efficacy for particular problems can be evaluated. Applied kinesiologists theorize that physical, chemical, and mental imbalances are associated with secondary muscle dysfunction – specifically a muscle inhibition (usually preceding an over facilitation of an opposing muscle).

Applying the proper therapy results in improvement in the inhibited muscle. Scientific, repeatable, and accurate muscle testing requires the specific isolation of a muscle before it is tested. Next, the AK practitioner instructs the patient to resist as the tester exerts downward force on the subject's arm. The tester subjectively evaluates the force exerted by the subject to determine the strength of the muscle. This is supposed to give a baseline for further testing.

AK nutrient testing appears to reflect the nervous system's efferent response to the stimulation of gustatory and olfactory nerve receptors by various tested substances. There is considerable evidence in the scientific literature of extensive efferent function throughout the body from stimulation of the gustatory and olfactory receptors.

For example, the tester might repeat the test with a particular substance under the subject's tongue; if the muscle tests weaker than the first test, that substance is determined to be harmful. The tester may also have the subject touch a particular body part with the opposite hand. For example, to "localize" testing to the heart, the subject would place a hand over the heart. A strong arm muscle test suggests a healthy heart, while a weak test suggests a problem.

Instead of sublingual testing, some practitioners have the subject simply hold a substance or place the substance near a particular organ. Some AK practitioners go as far as to hold a sealed container of the substance to be tested on the forehead, chest, etc. and then perform the strength test. Another commonly used technique in AK is to have the subject wear colored glasses (blue, green, red, etc.) and perform the strength testing while wearing each color of glasses. The color that causes the greatest (or least) perceived strength gains are believed to reveal information about the subject's condition.

There are now several websites ^[4] that display much of the Index Medicus Peer-Reviewed research papers regarding applied kinesiology, but they blend articles on AK with articles on academic kinesiology, so they must be examined with caution to avoid confusion. These papers go from 1915 (Journal of the American Medical Association, with a paper called "A method of testing muscular strength in infantile paralysis" by Martin EG, Lovett RW, (which has nothing to do with AK) to papers from 2006 from Journals like Physical Therapy, The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, and the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, many of which likewise have nothing to do with AK.

Proponents of AK provide what they believe to be evidence about the methods, clinical efficacy, and neurologic rationales of applied kinesiology examination and treatment. ^[5].

However, there is scientific research (below) of Applied Kinesiology that has shown it has no clinical validity. For example, muscle testing cannot distinguish a test substance from a placebo under double-blind conditions, and the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing.

The studies, research and reviews of applied kinesiology mentioned above are listed at the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.^{[6][7][8] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

Scientific studies showed that applied kinesiology tests were not reproducible. ^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

Robert Todd Carroll has noted that AK is an example of magical thinking.^[18]

According to the American Chiropractic Association, Applied Kinesiology is one of the 15 most frequently used chiropractic techniques in the United States, with 43.2% of chiropractors employing this method.

"This is an approach to chiropractic treatment in which several specific procedures may be combined. Diversified/manipulative adjusting techniques may be used with nutritional interventions, together with light massage of various points referred to as neurolymphatic and neurovascular points. Clinical decision-making is often based on testing and evaluation muscle strength." ^[19]

According to a March 26, 1998 letter from the DKF (Dansk Kiropractor-Forening - Danish Chiropractic Association), following public complaints from patients receiving homeopathic care and/or AK instead of standard (DKF defined) chiropractic care, the DKF has determined that applied kinesiology is not a form of chiropractic care and must not be presented to the public as such. AK and homeopathy can continue to be practiced by chiropractors as long as it is noted to be alternative and adjunctive to chiropractic care and is not performed in a chiropractic clinic. Chiropractors may not infer or imply that the chiropractic profession endorses AK to be legitimate or effective, nor may the word/title chiropractic/chiropractor be used or associated with the practice of AK. ^[20]

• George J. Goodheart, D.C.
• John Diamond, M.D.
• David R. Hawkins
• Yoshiaki Omura
• Jeffrey D. Katlein, D.C.
• Michael Lebowitz D.C.

• List of pseudosciences and pseudoscientific concepts
• ideomotor effect
• magical thinking
• Observer-expectancy effect

• International College of Applied Kinesiology
• Sacro-Occipital Technique Organization, USA
• The International Journal of Applied Kinesiology and Kinesiologic Medicine
• Kinesiology Network
• ICAK USA Response to "Quackwatch"

• Applied kinesiology by Robert Todd Carroll, Skeptic's Dictionary
• Applied Kinesiology: Muscle-Testing for "Allergies" and "Nutrient Deficiencies" by Stephen Barrett, Quackwatch
• Applied Kinesiology by William T. Jarvis, The National Council Against Health Fraud
• Applied kinesiology James Randi Educational Foundation, An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
• Applied Kinesiology: A waste of time and money from DoctorsCorner.net
• Applied Kinesiology American Cancer Society
• The Mischief-Making of Ideomotor Action by Ray Hyman, The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
• Applied Foolishness by John Blanton, The North Texas Skeptics
• InteliHealth applied kinesiology article material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
• Muscle Testing by John Ankerberg and John Weldon, The Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs
• Testing Muscle Testing: Applied Kinesiology by James Walker, The Watchman Expositor
• Applied Kinesiology and Nutritional Muscle Response Testing: A Christian Perspective by Janice Lyons
• Applied Kinesiology: Muscle testing gone mad Canadian Quackery Watch
• Applied Kinesiology - hands off please!! ChiroWatch.com
• Applied Kinesiology By Nicholas Brewer, 2006
• APPLIED KINESIOLOGY by Harry Edwards, A Skeptic’s Guide to the New Age
• Applied kinesiology Let Us Reason Ministries
• Alternative Medicine: What Works? by Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc.
• AK/CRA Practitioner's License Revoked Stephen Barrett, Chirobase
• Findings of the New Zealand Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal re AK/PMRT/BDORT in the case of Richard Gorringe