In the 1960s Dr. George Goodheart found that he could evaluate body function by the use of muscle tests. The principles of muscle testing can be used to evaluate virtually any organ or system in the body. It can also be used to find nutritional needs and food sensitivities. People evaluated with this method are often amazed that something so simple can work so well.
The examination involves determining which muscles test "strong" and which test "weak". The chiropractor skilled in applied kinesiology may realize that the "weakness" may not only indicate poor muscle function, but possibly a connection with organ function, nutritional issues, issues with the acupuncture meridian, lymphatic drainage issues or vascular issues.
The kinesiologist understands that certain patterns of muscle weakness give clues to the body's function. Each muscle, for example, can be tested to give an indication of how a specific organ is functioning. A skilled applied kinesiologist can use muscle testing and relationships like those between muscles and organs to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Muscle imbalance causes structural strain, which can result in muscle spasm, joint pain, poor sports performance, a tendency for injury or even systemic health problems. Structural stress can affect the nervous system, which can subsequently affect every organ and system in the body.
Muscles not only move bones, they hold the skeletal system in place. There is a dynamic tension in the musculoskeletal system. The muscles act like guide wires holding the bones in place. Skeletal balance is maintained by opposing muscles. If a muscle is weaker than the one opposing it, the opposing muscle becomes tight, and the skeletal structures become out of balance.
A weak muscle can cause pain and spasm in the opposing muscle. Ironically, many therapeutic efforts are directed toward spastic muscles, which often are not the cause of the problem. For example, weak abdominal muscles will cause the pelvis to tilt and the low back muscles (which oppose them) to go into spasm. Until the weakness in the abdominal muscles is corrected, efforts to reduce the spasm in the low back will not be very effective.
The doctor trained in applied kinesiology corrects muscle weakness and muscle imbalance by working with the nervous system, the lymphatic system, the vascular system, acupuncture meridians and nutrition. This is a holistic approach designed to get to the root cause of health problems.