Dr. Barry has been certified in the applied kinesiology technique since November 2000 and has over 300 hours of training.
What is applied kinesiology (AK) ?
AK is an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare which uses the following functional assessment measures among others:
- Posture and gait analysis
- Manual muscle testing as functional neurologic evaluation
- Range of motion analysis
- Static palpation
- Motion analysis
- Nutritional testing
These assessments are used in conjunction with standard methods of diagnosis, such as medical history, physical examination findings and laboratory tests in order to determine the unique physiologic condition of each patient.
What are the possible causes of a weak muscle?
Often the indication of dysfunction is the failure of a muscle to perform properly during the manual muscle test. This may be due to improper facilitation or neuromuscular inhibition. Some probable causes for a weak muscle are:
- Muscular or proprioceptive dysfunctions
- Peripheral nerve entrapment
- Spinal misalignments and nerve interruptions
- Neurologic disorganization
- Abnormal autonomic reflexes
- Nutritional inadequacy
- Toxic chemical influences
- Dysfunction in production or circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
- Adverse mechanical tension in the meningeal membranes
- Meridian system imbalance
- Lymphatic and vascular impairment
On the basis of response to therapy, it appears that in some of these conditions the primary dysfunction is due to deafferentation, the loss of normal sensory stimulation of neurons due to functional interruption of afferent receptors. It may occur under many circumstances, but is best understood by the concept that with abnormal joint function (subluxation or fixation) the aberrant movement causes improper stimulation of the local joint and muscle receptors. This changes the transmission from these receptors through the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, cortex, and then to the effectors from their normally expected stimulation. Symptoms of deafferentation arise from numerous levels such as motor, sensory, autonomic, and consciousness, or from anywhere throughout the neuroaxis.
Describe what is included in an AK examination?
Applied kinesiology interactive assessment procedures represent a form of functional biomechanical and functional neurologic evaluation.
The term functional biomechanics refers to the clinical assessment of posture, organized motion such as in gait, and ranges of motion. Muscle testing readily enters into the assessment of postural distortion, gait impairment and altered range of motion.
During a functional neurologic evaluation, muscle tests are used to monitor the physiologic response to a physical, chemical or mental stimulus. The observed response is correlated with clinical history and physical exam findings and, as indicated, with laboratory tests and any other appropriate standard diagnostic methods. Applied kinesiology procedures are not intended to be used as a single method of diagnosis. Applied kinesiology examination should enhance standard diagnosis, not replace it.
What can alter a muscle test?
In clinical practice the following stimuli are among those that have been observed to alter the outcome of a manual muscle test:
- Transient directional force applied to the spine, pelvis, cranium and extremities
- Stretching of a muscle, joint, ligament, and/or tendon
- The patient’s digital contact over the skin of a suspect area of dysfunction termed therapy localization
- Repetitive contraction of muscle or motion of a joint
- Stimulation of the olfactory receptors by fumes of a chemical substance
- Gustatory stimulation, usually by nutritional material
- A phase of diaphragmatic respiration
- The patient’s mental visualization of an emotional, motor, or sensory stressor activity
- Response to other sensory stimuli such as touch, nociceptor, hot, cold, visual, auditory, and vestibular afferentation
Describe the intricacies of muscle testing:
Manual muscle tests evaluate the ability of the nervous system to adapt the muscle to meet the changing pressure of the examiners test. This requires that the examiner be trained in the anatomy, physiology, and neurology of muscle function. The action of the muscle being tested, as well as the role of synergistic muscles, must be understood. Manual muscle testing is both a science and an art. To achieve accurate results, muscle tests must be performed according to a precise testing protocol.
The following factors must be carefully considered when testing muscles in clinical and research settings:
- Proper positioning so the test muscle is the prime mover
- Adequate stabilization of regional anatomy
- Observation of the manner in which the patient or subject assumes and maintains the test position
- Observation of the manner in which the patient or subject performs the test
- Consistent timing, pressure, and position
- Avoidance of preconceived impressions regarding the test outcome by the tester
- Utilizing non-painful contact ensuring a non-painful execution of the test
- Contraindications due to age, debilitative disease, acute pain and local pathology or inflammation
How does AK expand the practice of health care professionals ( MD, DDS, DC, DO, etc.)?
In applied kinesiology, a close clinical association has been observed between specific muscle dysfunction and related organ or gland dysfunction. This viscerosomatic relationship is but one of the many sources of muscle weakness. Placed into perspective and properly correlated with other diagnostic input, it gives the physician an indication of the organs or glands to consider as possible sources of health problems.
In standard diagnosis, body language such as paleness, fatigue, and lack of color in the capillaries and arterioles of the internal surface of the lower eyelid gives the physician an indication that anemia can be present. A diagnosis of anemia is only justified by laboratory analysis of the patient’s blood. In a similar manner, the muscle-organ/gland association and other considerations in applied kinesiology give indication for further examination to confirm or rule out an association in the particular case being studied. It is the physician’s total diagnostic workup that determines the final diagnosis.
An applied kinesiology-based examination and therapy are of great value in the management of common functional health problems when used in conjunction with information obtained from a functional interpretation of the clinical history, physical and laboratory examinations and from instrumentation. Applied kinesiology helps the physician understand functional symptomatic complexes. In assessing a patient’s status, it is important to understand any pathologic states or processes that may be present prior to instituting a form of therapy for what appears to be functional health problem.
Applied kinesiology-based procedures are administered to achieve the following examination and therapeutic goals:
- Provide an interactive assessment of the functional health status of an individual which is not equipment intensive but does emphasize the importance of correlating findings with standard diagnostic procedures
- Restore postural balance, correct gait impairment, improve range of motion
- Restore normal afferentation to achieve proper neurologic control and/or organization of body function
- Achieve homeostasis of endocrine, immune, digestive, and other visceral function
- Intervene earlier in degenerative processes to prevent delay the onset of frank pathologic processes.