Kinesiology is a holistic therapy which uses muscle response testing to measure the motor response of the central nervous system to a sensory challenge. By doing this, imbalances can be determined and methods to rebalance the body can be indicated.
In the same way that your body has an intricate system of nerves, veins, lymph, and others, your body also has an energetic system that cannot be seen with the eye, but that responds to the techniques used in Kinesiology.
History of Kinesiology
In the 1920s an orthopaedic surgeon, R.W. Lovett, developed a system for testing and grading the strength of muscles. His work was taken forward by Henry and Florence Kendall in 1949 and they produced a book entitled ‘Muscle Testing and Function’. Kinesiology, as we use it today, was developed by George Goodheart in 1964. He was an American chiropractor who realised that by using a specific technique of massaging the beginning and ending of a patient’s muscle, he could increase the strength of the muscle. He called this the ‘origin and insertion correction’ and named this new therapy Applied Kinesiology because he was applying information gathered by studying the muscle response (kinesiology means `study of movement`). George Goodheart became famous for being able to solve health problems that no one else could, and he taught these techniques to chiropractors, osteopaths, medical doctors and dentists. He went on to found the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK), and only practitioners who have trained with ICAK use the term ‘Applied Kinesiologist’.
Using accurate muscle testing, George Goodheart and other ICAK members identified where imbalances in the body were occurring and were able to introduce various factors to find the most relevant types of treatment that could help restore balance for that person. This meant every treatment could be tailored to each individual’s need. Working with Chinese medical theory they discovered links between muscle response, meridian energy and related organs. They linked these with Chapman’s neurolymphatic massage points and Bennet’s neurovascular holding points. Further research identified nutrients which would support rebalancing of the various systems and foods which could affect these circuits in a negative way. Emotional associations which contributed or resulted in imbalance and structural distortions were also identified and corrected.
Since its original inception in the 1960s, various branches of kinesiology have been developed, based on the core concepts of Kinesiology formed by George Goodheart, and some have developed their own unique aspects of Kinesiology and related techniques. The aim of all branches of Kinesiology is to work holistically with clients to address their imbalances and rebalance their system in order to work towards optimal health and well-being.
For an idea of what happens during an appointment, click the following link to the Kinesiology Association website:
Click here for more information about what happens during a Kinesiology consultation
