Kinesiology

Introduction

Kinesiology is sometimes referred to as "muscle-testing". However, although kinesiology does primarily use muscle testing, that is not just what kinesiology is about.

Kinesiology

There are different branches of kinesiology. A particular type of kinesiology is called 'systematic kinesiology'. Another kind is 'clinical kinesiology'. The latter is a more simplified version to the former. 

Systematic kinesiology

Courses

Systematic kinesiology courses can be very expensive. A practitioner course, run by the Academy of Systematic Kinesiology (ASK), which is done in London, UK, costs £10,000. If a person wishes to be systematic kinesiologist as a career, they need to be motivated to do such a course - including giving in the required homework. 

What is it?

In systematic kinesiology, a variety of muscles are "tested". The one that is used as a 'Strong Indicator Muscle' (or SIM for short) is the pectoralis major sternal muscle. There are believed to be multiple "circuits" associated with different muscles. Different muscles are links with a particular organ and muscle. Specific muscles require different "corrections". These "corrections" include the massage or rubbing of acupuncture points - referred to as "neuro-lymphatic points" (which, when rubbed, are supposed to improve the lymphatic system) and "neuro-vascular points" (when are usually held lightly and are supposed to improve the energy flow along the particular meridian. Normally these are centred on some place on the head).

Muscle-testing

Muscle-testing involves the kinesiologist applying a light pressure on a particular area of the muscle. The area the pressure is applied depends on the muscle, as what is being tested is the strength of the muscle as different muscles move or function in different directions. According to Kinesiology for Balanced Health - by Brian H Butler, p.134, the pectoralis major sternal is tested with "...the subject lying down. The arm is extended at 90 degrees to the body and to the shoulders with the elbow straight, the palm is turned outwards, pressure is against the wrist above the joint to push the arm back, and 45 degrees away from the body." If the muscle tests weak, it is interpreted to meaning that there is some blockage in the muscle's corresponding meridian circuit. Various measures may be used - for example, rubbing the neuro-lymphatic points and the neuro-vascular points, as well as "tracing" the meridian. Nutrition may also be seen to - for example, a milk thistle supplement may be muscle tested using this muscle, and if the muscle strengthens with this supplement, and is weak without the supplement being tested, then it means that the client with the weak pectoralis major sternal muscle should take the supplement in order to strengthen their muscle. 

    Bach flower remedies may also be tested using a SIM should it be found through further muscle-testing that the person needs to deal with their emotions. 

Muscles & meridians

According to Reflexology, by Joelle Peeters, p.19, meridians "...are energy pathways, along which flows the vital life force which is sometimes called qi." These meridians "are duplicated on each side of the body, with two central meridians (known as the 'governing' and 'conception' meridians) running down the front and back of the body along its central or median line." And Kinesiology, a type of alternative medicine, uses the concept of meridians in its practice. It involves testing the muscles by moving them in their natural range of motion. If the muscle is 'weak' due to an energy blockage, it will test weak by refusing to move. The kinesiologist would test the muscle by pressing on an area with a light two-finger pressure which the client must resist if they can by responding back to this. For example, with the supraspinatus muscle (which can be used as a 'strong indicator muscle'), the kinesiologist will test the supraspinatus by applying the light pressure at the client's wrist whilst they are lying down, seated or standing. The muscle is tested in its normal, 180-degree movement. If it resists the pressure, it is 'healthy' but if it doesn't, then it indicates an energy blockage. In Systematic Kinesiology, should a muscle show to be weak in this way, the relevant, associated meridian is physically traced just above the body, associated acupuncture points are held - 'neuro-vascular' points they are called - and other associated acupuncture points are physically rubbed - 'neuro-lymphatics' they are called." See also: Meridians

Meridian                             Muscle

Bladder                              Sacrospinalis

Brain                                  Supraspinatus

Circulation-sex                    Gluteus medius, piriformis

Gall bladder                        Anterior deltoid

Governing                           Teres major

Heart meridian                   Subscapularis  

Kidney                               Psoas, upper trapedius

Large intestine                    Fascia lata, hamstrings,

Liver                                 Pectoralis major sternal

Lung                                  Deltoid, diaphragm

Small intestine meridian      Abdominals, quadriceps  

Spleen                               Latissimus dorsii

Stomach                           Levator scapulae, neck muscles, pectoralis major clavicular                      

Triple warmer                    Sartorius, teres minor

Explanations

A sceptical explanation for kinesiology and muscle testing is the ideomotor effect. In other words, the muscle testing weak or strong may be more down to increased or decreased effort on behalf of the client. Or it may be due to increased or decreased pressure applied by the kinesiologist - if the kinesiologist presses harder when the muscle may be a bit weak (during a bit of laziness, for example) the muscle will be more suceptible to their pressure as it is not behaving as strongly as if it was not being a bit lazy. And vice versa. 

An explanation for the "improvement" in the muscle, or for its strength or weakness is classical conditioning. Another explanation is that it is cognitive dissonance and misperception, because the muscle testing results may be perceived in particualr way as evidence to support a belief in kinesiology or bodily energy systems (meridians, acupuncture points, etc.). For example, a person may have a weak subscapularis, so the heart meridian is traced, as well as the acupuncture points being held or massaged, and nutrition checked through muscle testing. However, it had tested weak due to improper muscle testing by the kinesiologist and after the corrections have been made the muscle tests stronger, but not due to the corrections, but because the practitioner's inadvertantly testing their subject differently to how they did before when muscle tested weak - they are testing more properly after the corrections than before, and they may not be aware of this. This is not due to the corrections, but more due to inconsistant muscle testing techniques on behalf of the practitioner; it is also a mere example for illustration. Anyway, in this scenario, through cognitive dissonance the practitioner believes that the muscle tests stronger due to the corrections, but in actual fact it is testing stronger due to their better muscle-testing. This is an example of classical conditioning.