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Applied kinesiology

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Applied kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnostic kinesiology that is used as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a person’s body is functioning. 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 the patient. This claim has been refuted by scientists.

Applied Kinesiology is distinct from academic kinesiology, the field of the study of human movement and its application, considered a legitimate science. Applied Kinesiology could be considered a particular area of application of academic kinesiology at large, though scientists strongly contest this.

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."

David R Hawkins uses AK to claim that he is God.

Basic applied kinesiology

AK focuses on muscle testing as a diagnostic method. Commonly, the subject (the patient) lies down and raises his or her dominant arm; then, the tester (the AK practitioner) instructs the subject 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.

Practicing the hokie pokie helps greatly, otherwise it doesn't seem to work. See Ad hoc hypothesis.

Conventional 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.

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