What is Muscle Testing?
Muscle testing is also referred to as Applied Kinesiology (AK) or Muscle Response Testing (MRT). This is a holistic approach to finding out what is currently going on in the body, and what the body needs to restore balance and to heal itself effectively.
How does muscle testing work?
Muscle testing works by using the body’s magnetic field to determine positive and negative responses. Think of it as you would think of the polarity of the earth. The earth has both a North and South Pole, similar to a magnet, where one pole is positive and one is negative. With this energy, the earth creates an electromagnetic shield around itself that protects it from outer space. Similarly, the human body also has a North Pole (at the top of the head) and a South Pole (at the bottom of the feet). It also, like the earth has matter within it (cells) that have combinations of positive and negatively charged ions (such as protons and neutrons). Our body also forms its own electromagnetic shield around itself. Everything on the plant duplicates the earth’s shield; every structure, plant, animal, human, etc.
If you think of the body as a house that had electrical lines running through it to power various functions, then you have an understanding of body electricity. Every part of the body is able to communicate with each other through the nervous system. The nervous system is essentially the electrical system of the body. Additionally, the body also has meridians running through it that move at .05 hertz along pathways through the body (this is shown in Chinese medicine).
In muscle testing, we isolate one group of muscles to use as the test point. We check your polarity to make sure your body will give us correct responses, Then, we ask the body questions to determine what is working well and what is not. The muscle will give a strong or positive response if something is doing well and does not need attention. The muscle will give a weak response if something needs cleansing or rebuilding. We can then determine what is out of balance and support the body where needed (with herbs, foods, water, supplements, vitamins, minerals, affirmations, structural work, craniotomy sacral, reflexology, energy work, foot baths, red light therapy, the list goes on!)
What can muscle testing help with?
Muscle testing, as stated above, is an excellent way to determine what the body needs and how to help that individual. We can not only determine what biochemical (nutritional) needs there are, but we can also determine if someone needs structural support, energy support, or psychological support as well. In fact, you can muscle test tons of different things if you want to. From the music you listen to, to the colors you wear, to the food you eat, and so on. I know many people who use it to order off menus, and choose items in grocery stores.
This is an extremely helpful tool in figuring out where a person’s symptoms originate from because someone could be having a headache for example, but it may have nothing to do with the head itself. The body will indicate where the root cause is, and then we can restore and repair from that point. When we experience disease in the body, it tells us that the way we are eating, thinking, or living is not allowing our “innate intelligence” to carry out the functions it needs to in order to maintain optimal health.
Where did muscle testing come from?
In the 1900’s an orthopedic surgeon, Robert W. Lovett, MD of Boston, Massachusetts discovered the science of muscle testing. You test a muscle by bringing the origin and insertion close together and then pushing the bone that the insertion is attached to (leg, arm, head or torso) in the line of drive that will bring the origin and insertion further apart. Dr. Lovett used muscle testing to understand disabilities that occurred from polio and nerve damage. He used muscle testing also, to trace spinal nerve damage because muscles that tested 'weak' often had a common spinal nerve. He published his findings in 1932.
Physical Therapists, Henry & Florence Kendall of Baltimore continued Lovett’s work releasing their book, “Muscle Testing and Function” in 1949. They mainly worked with child polio victims. Their work forwarded the profession of physical therapy leaps and bounds. It also contributed to the comprehension of bio-mechanics. Their work led to the development of Academic Kinesiology, an analysis of the way muscles controlled joints.
George Goodheart, DC, founded Applied Kinesiology, and used it to assess the body as a whole. He discovered the link between the body’s meridians and certain muscles. He learned that by using acupressure points, muscles in the body would have immediate relief. Goodheart also discovered that a muscle that was strong before, could become weakened if you touched a certain spot on the body in which there were issues, or if another stressor was introduced to the body. For example, if a food, environmental pollutant, or negative thoughts, it could change the muscle from strong to weak.
The benefits of muscle testing
Many things affect our body energy which impacts our overall health including our lifestyle, environment, diet, supplements, thinking, emotions, relationships, communication, and our touch which effects the biofield.
Some benefits include:
It can help correct musculoskeletal issues, including joint issues, inflammation, alignment, back aches, head aches, and muscle aches.
Improve digestion and elimination
Discover an optimal diet and balancing your body chemistry
Improve sleep and improve calmness and peace
Boost energy and get rid of fatigue
Improve psychological balance and clear upsetting emotions and traumas
Improve learning and education
Optimize athletic performance
Enhance productivity
Promote spiritual development
I use muscle testing in my day to day life and with my family as well. It has helped me come to the root cause of many of my issues, and I am so glad I discovered it! I am excited to bring this practice to my store & be able to help others.
“Assess the need. Supply the need. Observe the result.” George Goodheart, DC
