What is applied kinesiology
(AK) ?
A.K. is an
interdisciplinary approach to health care, which draws together the core
elements of the complementary therapies, creating a more unified approach to the
diagnosis and treatment of functional illness. A.K. uses functional assessment
measures such as posture and gait analysis, manual muscle testing as functional
neurologic evaluation, range of motion, static palpation, and motion analysis.
These assessments are used in conjunction with standard methods of diagnosis,
such as clinical history, physical examination findings, laboratory tests,
and instrumentation to develop a clinical impression of the unique physiologic
condition of each patient including an impression of the patient's
functional physiologic status. When appropriate, this clinical impression is
used as a guide to the application of conservative physiologic therapeutics.
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Do you need a professional
education to use AK?
The practice of applied
kinesiology requires that it be used in conjunction with other standard
diagnostic methods by professionals trained in clinical diagnosis. As such, the
use of applied kinesiology or its component assessment procedures is appropriate
only to individuals licensed to perform those procedures.
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What is the ICAK
(International College of Applied Kinesiology) ?
The ICAK, founded in 1975,
is an international group of nation chapters composed of health care
practitioners, medical doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths and dentists, who
specialize in AK. Currently, there are chapters in the United States, Canada,
Australia, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Scandanavia, Switzerland and
Russia.
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What is the purpose of the
ICAK ?
The International College
of Applied Kinesiology provides a clinical and academic arena for investigating.
substantiating, and propagating applied kinesiology (A.K.) findings and concepts
pertinent to the relationships between structural, chemical, and mental factors
in health and disease and the relationship between structural faults and the
disruption of homeostasis exhibited in functional illness.
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How did applied
kinesiology start?
The origin of contemporary
applied kinesiology is traced to 1964 when George G. Goodheart Jr., D.C., first
observed that in the absence of congenital or pathologic anomaly, postural
distortion is often associated with muscles that fail to meet the demands of
muscle tests designed to maximally isolate specific muscles. He observed that
tender nodules were frequently palpable within the origin and/or insertion of
the tested muscle. Digital manipulation of these areas of apparent muscle
dysfunction improved both postural balance and the outcome of manual muscle
tests. Goodheart and others have since observed that many conservative treatment
methods improve neuromuscular function as perceived by manual muscle testing.
These treatment methods have become the fundamental applied kinesiology approach
to therapy. Included in the A.K. approach are specific joint manipulation or
mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian
therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management, and various reflex: procedures.
With expanding investigation there has been continued amplification and
modification of the treatment procedures. Although many treatment techniques
incorporated into applied kinesiology were preexisting. Many new methods have
been developed within the discipline itself.
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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. In theory some of the proposed etiologies for the muscle dysfunction
are as follows:
- Myofascial or
proprioceptive dysfunctions and micro avulsions
- Peripheral nerve
entrapment
- Spinal segmental
facilitation and deafferentation
- Neurologic
disorganization
- Viscerosomatic
relationships (aberrant 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.
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Decribe 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.
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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
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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 examiner's 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 nonpainful
contacts ensuring a nonpainful execution of the test
- Contraindications due
to age, debilitative disease, acute pain and local pathology or inflammation
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How does AK expand the
practice of health care professionals ( MD's, DDS's, DC's, DO's, 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.
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Is everyone who uses muscle
testing practicing applied kinesiology?
When properly performed,
applied kinesiology can provide valuable insights into physiologic dysfunctions;
however, many individuals have developed methods that use muscle testing (and
related procedures) in a manner inconsistent with the approach advocated by the
International College of Applied Kinesiology. Clearly the utilization of muscle
testing and other A. K. procedures does not necessarily equate with the practice
of applied kinesiology as defined by the ICAK.
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Can nonprofessionals practice
applied kinesiology?
There are both lay persons
and professionals who use a form of manual muscle testing without the necessary
expertise to perform specific and accurate tests. Some fail to coordinate the
muscle testing findings with other standard diagnostic procedures. These may be
sources of error that could lead to misinterpretation of the condition present
and thus to improper treatment or failure to treat the appropriate condition.
For these reasons, the International College of Applied Kinesiology defines the
practice of applied kinesiology as limited to health cue professionals licensed
to diagnose.
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How is the teaching of
applied kinesiology organized?
An organized basic course
in applied kinesiology, covering 100 hours of instruction, was first established
in 1976. Due to the many advancements in AK, this syllabus has been modified and
updated continually since then. After completing the 100 hour basic course, the
student doctor can take other advanced courses taught by certified teaching
diplomates of the college.
In order to teach courses
for ICAK credit towards its diplomate status, the instructor must be a board
certified diplomate. The certification process is organized and
administered by the International Board of Examiners. This group consists of
Diplomates from almost all of the chapters and is composed of medical doctors,
osteopaths and chiropractors. The requirements that must be met to apply for the
test to become a Diplomate are:
- 300 hours of
instruction in applied kinesiology from certified teaching Diplomates.
- 3 years practicing
applied kinesiology
- Writing 2 research
papers based on some aspect of applied kinesiology
- Passing a 5 part
written test on various topics in applied kinesiology
- Taking and passing an
extensive practical test on AK
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Who can teach courses in
applied kinesiology for ICAK credit?
The teachers of AK must
first be Diplomates in applied kinesiology having passed the testing procedures
of the International Board of Examiners.
After this they can apply
for status in the Board of Certified Teachers (BCT). Maintaining active teaching
status has specific requirements that must be met every three years.
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