Applied Kinesiology
Neurological test for biomechanics, balance, function and range of motion
What is Kinesiology?
Kinesiology is a neurological test for biomechanics, balance, function, and range of motion, a measurement of body, mind and chemical health. Although many speak of the body’s “energy,” we are also so dealing with the nervous system. More importantly, brain function. All the changes observed are monitored and mediated through the nervous system. When someone trained is performing clinical kinesiology, they are looking for functional short circuits which can be corrected as opposed to “dead” circuits of the body. Dead circuits are out of a natural or conservative scope of practice. An example may be diabetic neuropathy where the nervous system is no longer communicating with the body. Another example, there are muscles associated with organ-related energy systems to be explained below. These imbalances could state pathology, a neurological condition, an emotional condition, a lack or excess of a nutrient, or an injury.
There are many people who muscle test and consider it kinesiology—but is it? How many people do kinesiology well? In my humble opinion, based on knowledge of functional testing, not as many as one would hope, probably less than ten percent. We can all make thoughts in our heads and perceive weakness or strength, swaying or stability, be content, or in distress.
A standard muscle testing is a basis for kinesiology and one common factor is observed, weak to strong and strong to weak. Learning how to test subtle changes in muscles will be a lifelong learning experience as each individual is different in healthy, biochemistry, strength, and function. Many muscle-testing technicians use the arm pull-down test. Is this adequate, precise, and infallible? No. Nothing is perfect and the precision of an arm pull-down test is far from precise as over 20 muscles could be brought into the test. At best it’s adequate in a time of haste.
What does a change in muscle strength mean? It could mean nothing, fatigue, toxicity, deficiency, change in metabolic demand, etc. So the practitioner needs to have some working knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and of course the nervous system. If it’s an organ, muscle, or nerve pathway, which fibers does it follow and where does it land in the brain? If there is weakness without, what does that mean? Are there blood tests to substantiate an organic or nutritional weakness? Is there a stressor or mechanoreceptor out of balance? I absolutely love kinesiology but you can see why there are so many different answers for a weak or strong muscle. We really need to know the frequency that is impacting the muscle fiber, its source, and where and how to fix the pathway—which is when we are performing or receiving kinesiology-based methods at their best. Of course, medical testing to back up findings keeps the practitioner honest and addresses the patient’s concerns.
Be well,
Dr. Trites
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