Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) was first introduced at John's Hopkins in the early 1940's as a means of quantifying disability. First, a muscle is isolated by positioning the patient in a precise manner. (If testing an arm muscle, the arm would be extended to the side, for example.) The patient is instructed to push first, then the doctor meets that pressure and gives just a little more. The results are graded as follows:
5 is perfect. The extended limb doesn't change position due to the doctor's force.
4 Suboptimal. The muscle is unable to adapt to additional force. It "folds" under the doctor's pressure and the extended limb is moved with relative ease.
3-0 Overt neurological or muscle pathology. Results range from barely resisting gravity to complete paralysis.
In 1964, Dr. George Goodheart of Detroit, Michigan, observed his patient's shoulder blade as sticking out more on the side of reported shoulder pain. Knowing that the muscle responsible for pulling in the shoulder blade was serratus anterior, he decided to test it bilaterally. Predictably, it was weaker on the shoulder pain side (4/5). He then felth the muscle along its attachment to the ribs and discovered little nodules, "like a bee bee under a slab of raw bacon." These nodules were remarkably tender. So, Dr. Goodheart rubbed the dickens out of them, and as he did, they "melted" under his fingertips. When he was done, he re-checked serratus anterior and graded it 5/5. The scapulae didn't stick out like before and the patient was relieved of shoulder pain. Dr. Goodheart developed many other techniques working with MMT, eventually forming a group of interested peers. He named his technique Applied Kinesiology (AK).
AK frequently produces results that are so rapid, they appear magical. As such, non-practitioners ridule AK as being pseudo-scientific, psycho-somatic 'voodoo.' Some of Dr. Goodheart's students didn't help either when they tried instructing laypersons who weren't trained in medicine or science. Unfortunately, MMT has been watered down by charlatans on TV. These frauds 'test' muscles to demonstrate weakness. Then, they ask the person to wear a 'magic' wristband. Once another sham 'test' reveals miraculous strengthening, they inform viewers how they may also purchase one.
There are some major differences between someone who knows what they're doing and a con-artist.
1. A professional applied kinesiologist can explain in detail which muscle (s)he is testing.
2. A professional applied kinesiologist can explain the difference between muscle strength and muscle inhibition:
One nerve on course to a muscle is composed of numerous nerve cells. For the sake of simplicity, let's say ten. A muscle has many cells as well, but for convenience, let's say one hundred. Therefore, each nerve cell instructs ten muscle cells to contract or relax. This is also known as the nerve to muscle ratio, 1:10 in this scenario. Body builders have even more muscle cells, so their ratio is even greater. Strength results from the quantity of muscle cells.
MMT weakness usually results from nerve inhibition. Obviously, if the nerve is severed, paralysis results. However, if the nerve is compressed such that only one nerve cell is disabled, the muscle can only function at 90%. This lack of adaptability predisposes the patient to joint injury. Inhibition results from a miscommunication originating in the nerves.
Simply put, a professional will be able to figure out why the muscle is testing weak (4/5) and explain how it can be fixed with detail. They will have a medical degree granting them primary care rights and a bare minimum of 100 hours certification in AK. Specialization is conferred by the title of Diplomate and designated with the credentials DIBAK after their name. For information on how to find a professional applied kinesiologist, visit the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) online.
5 is perfect. The extended limb doesn't change position due to the doctor's force.
4 Suboptimal. The muscle is unable to adapt to additional force. It "folds" under the doctor's pressure and the extended limb is moved with relative ease.
3-0 Overt neurological or muscle pathology. Results range from barely resisting gravity to complete paralysis.
In 1964, Dr. George Goodheart of Detroit, Michigan, observed his patient's shoulder blade as sticking out more on the side of reported shoulder pain. Knowing that the muscle responsible for pulling in the shoulder blade was serratus anterior, he decided to test it bilaterally. Predictably, it was weaker on the shoulder pain side (4/5). He then felth the muscle along its attachment to the ribs and discovered little nodules, "like a bee bee under a slab of raw bacon." These nodules were remarkably tender. So, Dr. Goodheart rubbed the dickens out of them, and as he did, they "melted" under his fingertips. When he was done, he re-checked serratus anterior and graded it 5/5. The scapulae didn't stick out like before and the patient was relieved of shoulder pain. Dr. Goodheart developed many other techniques working with MMT, eventually forming a group of interested peers. He named his technique Applied Kinesiology (AK).
AK frequently produces results that are so rapid, they appear magical. As such, non-practitioners ridule AK as being pseudo-scientific, psycho-somatic 'voodoo.' Some of Dr. Goodheart's students didn't help either when they tried instructing laypersons who weren't trained in medicine or science. Unfortunately, MMT has been watered down by charlatans on TV. These frauds 'test' muscles to demonstrate weakness. Then, they ask the person to wear a 'magic' wristband. Once another sham 'test' reveals miraculous strengthening, they inform viewers how they may also purchase one.
There are some major differences between someone who knows what they're doing and a con-artist.
1. A professional applied kinesiologist can explain in detail which muscle (s)he is testing.
2. A professional applied kinesiologist can explain the difference between muscle strength and muscle inhibition:
One nerve on course to a muscle is composed of numerous nerve cells. For the sake of simplicity, let's say ten. A muscle has many cells as well, but for convenience, let's say one hundred. Therefore, each nerve cell instructs ten muscle cells to contract or relax. This is also known as the nerve to muscle ratio, 1:10 in this scenario. Body builders have even more muscle cells, so their ratio is even greater. Strength results from the quantity of muscle cells.
MMT weakness usually results from nerve inhibition. Obviously, if the nerve is severed, paralysis results. However, if the nerve is compressed such that only one nerve cell is disabled, the muscle can only function at 90%. This lack of adaptability predisposes the patient to joint injury. Inhibition results from a miscommunication originating in the nerves.
Simply put, a professional will be able to figure out why the muscle is testing weak (4/5) and explain how it can be fixed with detail. They will have a medical degree granting them primary care rights and a bare minimum of 100 hours certification in AK. Specialization is conferred by the title of Diplomate and designated with the credentials DIBAK after their name. For information on how to find a professional applied kinesiologist, visit the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) online.
About the Author:
Charles Leahy writes about alternative healthcare. Find a great glen ellyn chiropractor, and learn all about applied kinesiology.
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