Vol. 9, No. 7, 1992

Articles on the New Age

by James Walker

Applied kinesiology, or muscle testing, is a practice developed in 1964 to diagnose or read (among other conditions) energy imbalances or nutritional values by pushing or pulling on different muscles (most often the finger muscles or the deltoid muscle of the arm) and reading the corresponding weakness.

In a typical session, a client will be asked to hold his arm out parallel to the floor for the test. The practitioner will then pull the arm down checking the muscle resistance while the client holds certain foods, vitamins, herbs, etc. either in his other hand, between the lips, or under his tongue.

For example, white sugar can be tested to show an immediate weakness while certain herbs or vitamins (often sold by the practitioner) can be demonstrated to add immediate strength to the arm.

The Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary defines applied kinesiology as: "a form of chiropractic examination wherein the doctor locates a malfunctioning nerve by testing and using the patient's own hand to add or subtract energy to nerve centers.... [including] evaluation of nerve, vascular, and lymphatic systems, nutrition, acupuncture, cerebral spinal fluid function." (The Donning International Encyclopedic Psychic Dictionary, p. 31).

It should be noted that the practice of applied kinesiology has nothing to do with the science of Kinesiology, which is the legitimate study of muscular movement and tension as it relates to joints, tendons, and skeletal structure.

History

The father of applied kinesiology is George Goodheart, a Michigan chiropractor who developed the concept.

He combined elements of psychic philosophy, Chinese Taoism, and "early chiropractic theory concerning the body's supposed Innate Intelligence with ancient Eastern practices designed to regulate supposed mystical life energies within the body" (Can You Trust Your Doctor, 157).

Goodheart was involved with the occult.

He is reported to have developed his elaborate charts showing relationship of specific organs and acupuncture meridians to certain nutrients and herbs (at least in part) through psychic powers.

John Ankerberg and John Weldon quote research by Robert Pollack and Edward Kravitz (Nutrition in Oral Health and Disease, p. 310) providing evidence that Goodheart discoverd applied kinesiology by using his gift as a "psychic (personal communication) and developed his charts by this means" (Ibid).

Ankerberg and Weldon confirmed this report through contacts with the president of the National Council Against Health Fraud, Dr. William Jarvis, who also serves as professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical School in California.

Jarvis verified that Goodheart indeed relied on psychic powers in the development of applied kinesiology (Ibid).

Goodheart published his theories in a series of reports (Workshop Procedure Manuals, 1964, 1972, and 1973-76). His books along with works of later proponents (John Thie, Touch for Health, Joseph Donahue, Transitions, and John Diamond, Your Body Doesn't Lie.) describe the theory behind Goodheart's discoveries.

"He combined the concept of "innate intelligence" with the Eastern religious concept of energy (ch'i) and the idea that muscles reflex (reflect back) the condition of each of the various body organs via the chi's meridians.

"`Innate intelligence' is described as spiritual intelligence which runs the body and is connected to the universal intelligence though the nervous system.

"His theory is that the status of all body organs and systems can be determined by checking the resistance of a specific muscle" (Kinesiology [Muscle Response Testing], p.1) a Monograph published by Christians Investigating New Age Medicine [CINAM], an Asheville, South Carolina based research and information organization).

Claims

Proponents claim to be able to diagnose disease, weakness, chemical imbalances, discern the values of vitamins and nutrients, detect allergies and toxic reactions, as well as to predict future problems in these and other areas using Goodheart's methods or variations of them.

Applied kinesiologists have also branched out into other areas with some claiming the ability to read personality disorders, emotional problems, and information related to past lives.

Using the same basic principles and techniques developed by Goodheart, practitioners have developed Behavioral Kinesiology (Can You Trust Your Doctor, p. 161), and even a system of communication with plants ("Gardening With Nature," Organic Gardening, November 1990, pp. 54-57).

Joanna Poncavage describes the techniques of Machaelle Small Wright saying, "she learned of the community in Scotland [Findhorn] that credited its contact with the forces of nature for gardening success.... Soon she devised a simple way to communicate with nature based on kinesiology, or reading the energy of the body" (Ibid).

While most proponents of applied kinesiology might find these claims to be excessive, no scientific research can show why one form of the practice should be preferred over the other when they are all based on the same philosophical theory.

Effectiveness

Ankerberg and Weldon write: "Applied kinesiology as a whole violates everything science tells us is true in these areas. Therefore, no basic teaching or practice of applied kinesiology can be scientifically established as true, and scientific testing of AK claims proves they are false."

"None of these methods ever appear in Scientific American, Science, the Journal of the American Medical Association, or any other reputable periodical" (Can You Trust Your Doctor).

Concerning applied kinesiology and its sister practice Touch for Health (developed by Pasadena, California chiropractor John Thie), Dr. Paul C. Reisser, Teri K. Reisser, and John Weldon write, "Theses relationships [between muscles and organs] have no basis in traditional anatomy and can be understood only in terms of meridians and the flow of universal energy (that is Ch'i), (The Holistic Healers, p.81)

Credible scientific studies of applied kinesiology conducted by major universities or respected research facilities are in short supply. This may be because few (if any) scientists or licensed medical doctors take its claims seriously.

A scientific double-blind pilot study, however, was conducted to test the claims of applied kinesiology. It was conducted by the ALTA Foundation for Sports Medicine Research in Santa Monica, California.

Published in the June 1988 Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study tested, "three experienced applied kinesiologists for four nutrients (thiamin, zinc, vitamin A, and ascorbic acid). The results obtained by those applied kinesiologists were compared with (a) one another, (b) standard laboratory tests for nutrient status, and (c) computerized isometric muscle testing.

"Statistical analysis yielded no significant interjudge reliability, no significant correlation between the testers and standard biochemical tests for nutrient status, and no significant correlation between mechanical and manual determinations of relative muscle strength" ("Applied Kinesiology Unreliable for Assessing Nutrient Status," Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Vol. 88, No. 6, p. 698).

In other words, the applied kinesiologists did not agree with each other, failed to discern true nutrient differences, and could not even truly judge real differences in muscle strength.

The abstract concluded, "the results of this study indicated that the use of applied kinesiology to evaluate nutrient status is no more useful than random guessing" (Ibid).

The research (published by James J. Kenney, Ph.D., R.D., Roger Clemens, Dr.P.H., and Kenneth D. Forsythe, M.D.) further cautioned that there was, "no known physiological mechanism that could provide a scientific explanation as to how subjective muscle testing could be useful in assessing nutritional status.

"Furthermore, there is no known physiological mechanism whereby the mere presence of a deficient nutrient (held between the lips, under the tongue, or next to the abdomen for a few seconds) could almost instantaneously correct a nutrient deficiency severe enough to cause muscle weakness" (Ibid).

Thus, the problem with the effectiveness of applied kinesiology is two-fold. When tested scientifically, practitioners are found to be no more accurate than random guessing, and researchers are left with no physical model to explain how the system works even if it did.

If there is no legitimate physical explanation as to how undigested (and in some cases unopened) vitamins can instantly strengthen the arm muscles, than one is only left with a psychic, spiritual, or psychosomatic explanation.

Faithful clients of applied kinesiologists often counter that these vitamins and herbs are good for them.

The truth is that products sold by applied kinesiologists may or may not be heathy and beneficial but pulling ones finger, or arm (or leg??) is not a legitimate way to differentiate.

Conclusion

Most involved in applied kinesiology (including many Christians) are sincerely trying to help meet real medical and nutritional needs in the lives of their friends and clients. Not all practitioners are aware of the occult or Taoist elements of the procedure.

Being well-intentioned, however, is not sufficient. Christian practitioners should seriously reconsider applied kinesiology until at least three important criteria are addressed.

A) Government or university sponsored scientific studies should be available that demonstrate that the practice is safe, effective, and accurate.

B) An explanation (or at least a theory) must be proposed that provides a legitimate physical model showing how applied kinesiology works based on the known and accepted laws of physical anatomy.

C) Both the studies and explanation should be consistent with the principles of Christian Monotheism.

Until then, applied kinesiology should not be seen as a valid medical procedure. Its only possible value is its use as a religious practice -- that is the New Age religion, not Christianity.