Applied kinesiology

This article is about a chiropractic or an alternative medicine method. For other uses, see Kinesiology (disambiguation).

Applied kinesiology
Intervention
MeSH	D018953

Applied kinesiology

Claims	Subjective measurements by those trained in the ideas of applied kinesiology show the positive effects of alternative medicine ideas.
Related scientific disciplines	Physics, Biology, Psychology
Year proposed	1964
Original proponents	George J. Goodheart
Subsequent proponents	International College of Applied Kinesiology, American Chiropractic Association
Pseudoscientific concepts

Applied kinesiology (AK) is an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy. According to practitioners using Applied Kinesiology techniques, it provides feedback on the functional status of the body. AK is a practice within the realm of alternative medicine and is different from "kinesiology," which is the scientific study of human movement. AK has been criticized on theoretical and empirical grounds,^[1] and characterized as pseudoscience^[2] and quackery.^[1] In Britain, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recently ruled that it is unproven and advised against its use in allergy diagnosis.^[3]

History and current use

In 1964, George J. Goodheart invented Applied Kinesiology through his unique interpretation and application of Muscles: Testing and Function written by two physical therapists Kendall and Kendall.^[4]

George J. Goodheart, a chiropractor, originated AK in 1964^[5] and began teaching it to other chiropractors.^[6] An organization of Goodheart Study Group Leaders began meeting in 1973, selected the name "The International College of Applied Kinesiology" (ICAK) in 1974, adopted bylaws in 1975, elected officers in 1975, and "certified" its charter members, called "diplomates" in 1976.^[7] ICAK now considers 1976 to be the date it was founded and 1973 to be the date that its first chairman took office.^[8]

While it is primarily used by chiropractors, it is now also used by a number of other practitioners.^[9] In 2003 it was the 10th most frequently used chiropractic technique in the United States, with 37.6% of chiropractors employing this method and 12.9% of patients being treated with it,^[10] and has also been used by naturopaths, medical doctors, dentists, nutritionists, physical therapists, massage therapists, and nurse practitioners. Some basic AK based techniques have also been used/misused by nutritional supplement distributors, including multilevel distributors.^[9][11]

Basics

Applied kinesiologist (right) practising

Applied kinesiology is presented as a system that evaluates structural, chemical, and mental aspects of health by using a method referred to as manual muscle testing alongside conventional diagnostic methods. The essential premise of applied kinesiology that is not shared by mainstream medical theory is that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a weakness in a specific corresponding muscle, the viscerosomatic relationship.^[11][12] Treatment modalities relied upon by practitioners include joint manipulation and mobilization, myofascial, cranial and meridian therapies, clinical nutrition, and dietary counseling.^[13]

A manual muscle test in AK is conducted by having the patient resist using the target muscle or muscle group while the practitioner applies a force. A smooth response is sometimes referred to as a "strong muscle" and a response that was not appropriate is sometimes called a "weak response". This is not a raw test of strength, but rather a subjective evaluation of tension in the muscle and smoothness of response, taken to be indicative of a difference in spindle cell response during contraction. These differences in muscle response can be indicative of various stresses and imbalances in the body.^[14] A weak muscle test is equated to dysfunction and chemical or structural imbalance or mental stress, indicative of suboptimal functioning.^[15] It may be suboptimal functioning of the tested target muscle, or a normally optimally functioning muscle can be used as an indicator muscle for other physiological testing. A commonly known and very basic test is the arm-pull-down test, or "Delta test," where the patient resists as the practitioner exerts a downward force on an extended arm.^[4] Proper positioning is paramount to ensure that the muscle in question is isolated or positioned as the prime mover, minimizing interference from adjacent muscle groups.^[12]

"Nutrient testing" is used to examine the response of various of a patient's muscles to assorted chemicals. Gustatory and olfactory stimulation are said to alter the outcome of a manual muscle test, with previously weak muscles being strengthened by application of the correct nutritional supplement, and previously strong muscles being weakened by exposure to harmful or imbalancing substances or allergens.^[12][14][16] Though its use is deprecated by the ICAK,^[17] stimulation to test muscle response to a certain chemical is also done by contact or proximity (for instance, testing while the patient holds a bottle of pills). Studies of AK for nutrient or allergy testing have had positive and negative conclusions (see "Scientific Research" below.)

"Therapy localization" is another diagnostic technique using manual muscle testing which is unique to applied kinesiology. The patient places a hand which is not being tested on the skin over an area suspected to be in need of therapeutic attention. This fingertip contact may lead to a change in muscle response from strong to weak or vice versa when therapeutic intervention is indicated. If the area touched is not associated with a need for such intervention, the muscle response is unaffected.^[15]

Scientific research

As with many concepts considered pseudoscientific, there is debate around the nature and quality of evidence supporting applied kinesiology, with proponents claiming support from some published papers and critics noting other research which fails to show efficacy. One review of the literature identified methodological problems with previous AK studies^[18]

Studies supporting AK have been published in respect of food allergies and antibodies for those foods,^[19] and a blinded study where the response of a calf muscle to an inhibitory reflex technique used in AK was studied using graphical recordings of electromyography and mechanical parameters, finding that with good coordination between the examiner and subject, muscle inhibition was easily recorded.^[20]

Other studies have failed to show clinical efficacy. For example, in some studies muscle testing has not been shown to distinguish a test substance from a placebo under double-blind conditions, and the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status was not shown to be more effective than random guessing. Some scientific studies have shown that applied kinesiology tests were not reproducible.^{[21][22][23][24][25]}

A review of several scientific studies of AK-specific procedures and diagnostic tests concluded that "When AK is disentangled from standard orthopedic muscle testing, the few studies evaluating unique AK procedures either refute or cannot support the validity of AK procedures as diagnostic tests. The evidence to date does not support the use of [manual muscle testing] for the diagnosis of organic disease or pre/subclinical conditions."^[26] Another concluded that "There is little or no scientific rationale for these methods. Results are not reproducible when subject to rigorous testing and do not correlate with clinical evidence of allergy."^[27] A double-blind study was conducted by the ALTA Foundation for Sports Medicine Research in Santa Monica, California and published in the June 1988 Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study used 3 experienced AK practitioners and concluded that, "The results of this study indicated that the use of Applied Kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing."^[28]

Despite more than four decades of review, RCT (random control trials) and other evaluative methods, even invested researchers delivered the following opinion;

One shortcoming is the lack of RCTs to substantiate (or refute) the clinical utility (efficacy, effectiveness) of chiropractic interventions based on MMT findings. Also, because the etiology of a muscle weakness may be multifactorial, any RCT that employs only one mode of therapy to only one area of the body may produce outcomes that are poor due to these limitations.^[29]

Some of the studies, research and reviews of applied kinesiology mentioned above are listed at the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.^{[23][24][28][30][31][32][33]}

Criticism

Nearly all AK tests are subjective, relying solely on practitioner assessment of muscle response. Specifically, some studies have shown test-retest reliability, inter-tester reliability, and accuracy to have no better than chance correlations.^[11][24][34] Some skeptics have argued that there is no scientific understanding of the proposed underlying theory of a viscerosomatic relationship, and the efficacy of the modality is unestablished in some cases and doubtful in others.^[11][16] Skeptics have also dismissed AK as "quackery," "magical thinking," and a misinterpretation of the ideomotor effect.^[1][35] It has also been criticized on theoretical and empirical grounds,^[1] and characterized as pseudoscience.^[2] With only anecdotal accounts providing positive evidence for the efficacy of the practice, a review of peer-reviewed studies concluded that the "evidence to date does not support the use of [AK] for the diagnosis of organic disease or pre/subclinical conditions."^[26]

Position statements

American Chiropractic Association

According to the American Chiropractic Association, in 2003 Applied Kinesiology was the 10th most frequently used chiropractic technique in the United States, with 37.6% of chiropractors employing this method and 12.9% of patients being treated with it.^[10]

"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 evaluating muscle strength."^[6]

Note that "testing and evaluating muscle strength" is a basic practice in physical medical examination and that "testing and evaluating muscle strength" neither means the same as practicing Applied Kinesiology nor does Applied Kinesiology use testing and evaluating muscle strength as such, but as an assumed means of diagnostics not directed at muscle strength in itself at all. The citation therefore shows that citing legitimate chiropractics in favor of Applied Kinesiology is questionable in itself.

Danish Chiropractic Association

According to a March 26, 1998 letter from the DKF (Dansk Kiropraktor 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 Danish 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.^[36]

See also

• Ideomotor effect
• List of topics characterized as pseudoscience

• Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique
• Observer-expectancy effect

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Carroll, Robert Todd "These are empirical claims and have been tested and shown to be false". "Applied Kinesiology". The Skeptics Dictionary. http://skepdic.com/akinesiology.html. Retrieved 2007-07-26. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Atwood KC (2004). "Naturopathy, Pseudoscience, and Medicine: Myths and Fallacies vs Truth". MedGenMed 6 (1): 33. PMC 1140750. PMID 15208545. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471156. 
3. ^ NICE consults on draft guideline on food allergies in children
4. ^ ^{a b} Frost, Robert, Applied Kinesiology: A Training Manual and Reference Book of Basic Principles and Practices', p. 4, North Atlantic Books, 2002. available online
5. ^ Profile of Goodheart
6. ^ ^{a b} Chiropractic Techniques. American Chiropractic Association.
7. ^ John Thie, D.C. – 1973 to 1976
8. ^ What is the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK)?
9. ^ ^{a b} Applied Kinesiology: Phony Muscle-Testing for "Allergies" and "Nutrient Deficiencies", by Stephen Barrett, MD
10. ^ ^{a b} Job Analysis of Chiropractic. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. 2005. pp. 135. ISBN 1884457053. http://nbce.org/pdfs/job-analysis/chapter_10.pdf. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d} Applied Kinesiology, American Cancer Society, May 23, 2007. available online
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Applied Kinesiology Status Statement". International College of Applied Kinesiology – USA. Archived from the original on 2008-03-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20080322003013/http://www.icak.com/college/status.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
13. ^ "What is Applied Kinesiology?". ICAK-USA. http://www.icakusa.com/what.php. Retrieved 12/05/07. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Sims, Judith. "Applied Kinesiology". Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0001/ai_2603000168/pg_1. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "Applied Kinesiology: In Retrospect". International College of Applied Kinesiology – USA. http://www.icak.com/college/history.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-13. ^{[dead link]}
16. ^ ^{a b} "Applied Kinesiology". InteliHealth. http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/34968/358738.html?d=dmtContent. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
17. ^ "International College of Applied Kinesiology – FAQ". International College of Applied Kinesiology – USA. Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829110654/http://www.icak.com/about/icak_faq.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
18. ^ Motyka TM, Yanuck SF (March 1999). "Expanding the neurological examination using functional neurologic assessment part I: methodological considerations". Int. J. Neurosci. 97 (1–2): 61–76. doi:10.3109/00207459908994303. PMID 10681118. 
19. ^ Schmitt WH, Leisman G (December 1998). "Correlation of applied kinesiology muscle testing findings with serum immunoglobulin levels for food allergies". Int. J. Neurosci. 96 (3–4): 237–44. doi:10.3109/00207459808986471. PMID 10069623. 
20. ^ Perot C, Meldener R, Goubel F (1991). "Objective measurement of proprioceptive technique consequences on muscular maximal voluntary contraction during manual muscle testing". Agressologie 32 (10 Spec No): 471–4. PMID 1844106. 
21. ^ Friedman MH, Weisberg J (March 1981). "Applied kinesiology--double-blind pilot study". J Prosthet Dent 45 (3): 321–3. doi:10.1016/0022-3913(81)90398-X. PMID 6938675. 
22. ^ Garrow JS (June 1988). "Kinesiology and food allergy". Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 296 (6636): 1573–4. doi:10.1136/bmj.296.6636.1573. PMC 1833519. PMID 3135014. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1833519. 
23. ^ ^{a b} Haas M, Peterson D, Hoyer D, Ross G (1994). "Muscle testing response to provocative vertebral challenge and spinal manipulation: a randomized controlled trial of construct validity". J Manipulative Physiol Ther 17 (3): 141–8. PMID 8006528. 
24. ^ ^{a b c} Lüdtke R, Kunz B, Seeber N, Ring J (September 2001). "Test-retest-reliability and validity of the Kinesiology muscle test". Complement Ther Med 9 (3): 141–5. doi:10.1054/ctim.2001.0455. PMID 11926427. 
25. ^ Pothmann R,Evaluation of applied kinesiology in nutritional intolerance of childhood,Forsch komplementärmed klass Naturheilkunde,2001,9:115
26. ^ ^{a b} Haas, Mitchell; Robert Cooperstein, and David Peterson (2007-08). "Disentangling manual muscle testing and Applied Kinesiology: critique and reinterpretation of a literature review". Chiropractic & Osteopathy 15 (1): 11. doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-11. PMC 2000870. PMID 17716373. http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/15/1/11. Retrieved 2007-11-30. 
27. ^ Wurlich, B. (2005). "Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis". Journal of investigational allergology and clinical immunology 15 (2): 86–90. PMID 16047707. 
28. ^ ^{a b} Kenney JJ, Clemens R, Forsythe KD (June 1988). "Applied kinesiology unreliable for assessing nutrient status". J Am Diet Assoc 88 (6): 698–704. PMID 3372923. 
29. ^ Cuthbert, S C, Goodheart, G J (March 2007). "On the reliability and validity of manual muscle testing: a literature review". Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2007 15 (4). doi:10.1186/1746-1340-15-4. PMID 17341308. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1847521/pdf/1746-1340-15-4.pdf. 
30. ^ Staehle HJ, Koch MJ, Pioch T (November 2005). "Double-blind study on materials testing with applied kinesiology". J. Dent. Res. 84 (11): 1066–9. doi:10.1177/154405910508401119. PMID 16246943. http://jdr.iadrjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16246943. 
31. ^ Wüthrich B (2005). "Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis". J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 15 (2): 86–90. PMID 16047707. 
32. ^ Tschernitschek H, Fink M (February 2005). "["Applied kinesiology" in medicine and dentistry—a critical review]" (in German). Wien Med Wochenschr 155 (3–4): 59–64. doi:10.1007/s10354-004-0113-9. PMID 15791778. 
33. ^ Teuber SS, Porch-Curren C (June 2003). "Unproved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to food allergy and intolerance". Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 3 (3): 217–21. doi:10.1097/00130832-200306000-00011. PMID 12840706. 
34. ^ Hyman, Ray (1999). "Psychology and 'Alternative Medicine': the mischief-making of ideomotor action". The Scientific review of Alternative Medicine 3 (2). http://www.sram.org/0302/ideomotor.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25. 
35. ^ Magical Thinking. Skeptic's Dictionary
36. ^ Danish Chiropractic Association position

External links

Promotional sites

• International College of Applied Kinesiology
• The International Journal of Applied Kinesiology and Kinesiologic Medicine

Skeptical evaluations

• 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
• 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 By Nicholas Brewer, 2006
• Applied Kinesiology by Harry Edwards, A Skeptic’s Guide to the New Age