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See also: academic kinesiology
Applied kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnostic kinesiology. It is a method used to give feedback on the physical properties of the body. Proponents say that when properly applied, the outcome of an AK test, such as a muscle strength test, will determine the best form of therapy for patients. This claim has been refuted by scientists.
Applied Kinesiology is distinct from academic kinesiology, which is the scientific study of human movement and its application. Applied Kinesiology is considered an application of academic kinesiology by some, mostly chiropractors, while mainstream scientists consider AK to be a pseudoscience.
Since AK seeks to draw together the core elements of many complementary therapies, it provides an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to health care. George J. Goodheart, D.C., a chiropractor, originated AK in 1964. Subsequently, its use spread to other chiropractors and a few medical doctors. In 1976, the International College of Applied Kinesiology was founded. Studies from ICAK have been shown to have "no valid conclusions."
Basic applied kinesiology
AK tests muscles as a diagnostic method. Commonly, AK patients lie down and raise their dominant arm. Next, the AK practitioner instructs the patient to resist as the tester exerts downward force on the subject's arm. The tester subjectively evaluates the force exerted by the subject to determine the strength of the muscle. This is supposed to give a baseline for further testing.
For example, the tester might repeat the test with a particular substance under the subject's tongue; if the muscle tests weaker than the first test, that substance is determined to be harmful. The tester may also have the subject touch a particular body part with the opposite hand. For example, to "localize" testing to the heart, the subject would place a hand over the heart. A strong arm muscle test suggests a healthy heart, while a weak test suggests a problem.
Instead of sublingual testing, some practitioners have the subject simply hold a substance or place the substance near a particular organ. Some AK practitioners go as far as to hold a sealed container of the substance to be tested on the forehead, chest, etc. and then perform the strength test. Another commonly used technique in AK is to have the subject wear colored glasses (blue, green, red, etc.) and perform the strength testing while wearing each color of glasses. The color that causes the greatest (or least) perceived strength gains are believed to reveal information about the subject's condition.
Because nearly all AK tests are subjective, many regard the practice with skepticism. The AK practitioner performing the test applies pressure opposite the patient, but this practitioner is also the one who decides whether one push is stronger than another. Without an objective method of measuring strength, applied kinesiology will likely remain in the realm of pseudoscience.
Debate about kinesiology
- Pascale and Ronan Boucher, who lived in Brittany (France), applied kinesiology to care Kerywan, their little 16 month baby. They totally refused to bring their children in a hospital because they had a bad idea of this institution and did not want to attend their baby with an other method than kinesiology. They finally called the aid center on the 12th of november 2000 at 9:32pm because of the very serious state of health of their baby. Kerywan died one hour later. He had the weight of a 4 month baby.
After this tragedy, some people in France (doctors, authorities..) began to take seriously the kinesiology drifts. Kinesiology is not recognized in France, and it can be considered in some cases as an illegal practice of medicine. Some people suspect kinesiology to be a "dangerous sect".
Scientific view of AK
Practitioners of conventional medicine tend to consider AK to have no scientific validity. For example, Stephen Barrett, M.D. argues that muscle testing cannot distinguish a test substance from a placebo under double-blind conditions.
AK has been disproved using the scientific method . This is evidenced by double-blind studies, plus research and reviews listed at the National Library of Medicine .
Notable practitioners and theorists
- George J. Goodheart, D.C.
- David R Hawkins
External links
- International College of Applied Kinesiology
- Applied kinesiology Skeptic's Dictionary
- Applied Kinesiology: Muscle-Testing for "Allergies" and "Nutrient Deficiencies"
- Dr. Hawkins's AK Quackery
- National Library of Medicine (search "applied kinesiology")
- Canadian Quackery Watch
- James Randi Educational Foundation "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural" applied kinesiology
- Is Complementary & Alternative Medicine a UFO?
- "Science as Falsification" by Sir Karl Popper
- InteliHealth applied kinesiology article material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
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