Doctors practicing Applied Kinesiology (AK) often use muscle testing to evaluate how a patient’s body reacts to specific supplements, aiming to uncover nutritional deficiencies or imbalances.

WHAT IS APPLIED KINESIOLOGY?

Developed in the 1960s by chiropractor Dr. George Goodheart, Applied Kinesiology is an alternative diagnostic approach combining chiropractic principles, nutrition, and traditional Chinese medicine. It’s based on the idea that muscle strength reflects the body’s health, and changes in muscle response can indicate stress or imbalances.

MUSCLE TESTING: THE HEART OF AK

Muscle testing involves applying gentle pressure to a muscle while the patient holds a substance (like a supplement) or while the practitioner touches a reflex point. The practitioner notes if the muscle stays strong or weak:

Strong response → suggests the supplement may be beneficial.

Weak response → suggests the supplement might not suit the body or indicates stress.

This is usually done with the patient lying down or standing, testing several supplements in sequence.

USING AK TO IDENTIFY SUPPLEMENT NEEDS

Practitioners use AK to:

- Detect nutritional deficiencies before lab tests reveal them.

- Determine which supplements improve the body’s response.

- Tailor treatment plans based on the body’s unique feedback instead of following standard protocols.

For instance, a fatigued patient might test weak with some adrenal-support supplements but show a strong response to others, helping guide the practitioner’s recommendations.