Chiropractic Kinesiology

What Is Applied Kinesiology?

Let's ask the official and founding college, the ICAK-USA!

Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing combined with other standard methods of diagnosis. AK, a non-invasive system of evaluating body function that is unique in the healing arts, has become a dynamic movement in health care in its relatively short existence.

Is "AK" only a Chiropractic thing?

It's a set of tools that focus on affecting the root cause.

Dr. George Goodheart, DC discovered and named AK over 50 years ago. Since then, thousands of doctors from around the world have learned, practiced, researched and taught this ever growing body of knowledge. In the USA, Chiropractors are the most abundant practicioners using these techniques. However, Medical Doctors, Acupuncturists, Naturopathic Doctors and Dentists also utilize AK to best suite their own specialties around the world. For example, Dr. Hallmark's father was a Dr. of Dentistry who studied AK in the early 1980's. He found that patients with jaw clenching, grinding, tension headaches and TMJ pain, recovered much more quickly when he referred them to a Chiropractor for upper neck adjustments. Research later supported this practice, which found the very complex and important relationship within the nervous system, between proper jaw movement, neck motion and healthy posture.

WHAT HAS AK DONE FOR ATHLETES?

One of the most "winning" AK sports doctors in the field wrote a book originally titled, "Fitness VS Health". He described the most credible and effective training system for elite athletes. An important point of his research determined that an elite athlete should train at their target heart-rate for the duration of their desired sport. For example, a runner should practice at their target heart-rate for the 10K or marathon mileage. Their times start out far below their competitors, but over the duration of their preparation, they find their finish times get better and better. This method builds their strength, endurance and mental strength enough to compete and win. They can train to win without depleting their essential organ function and build resistance to the worst thing possible for athletes... Injuries from overtraining!

"AK" is very different than Kinesiology taught in undergraduate colleges:

The combined terms “applied” and “kinesiology” describe the basis of this system, which is the use of manual muscle testing to evaluate body function through the dynamics of the musculoskeletal system. Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counseling skills, evaluating environmental irritants and various reflex procedures. (ICAK-USA)