The Origins of Kinesiology
Muscle testing was first used in Western medicine in the early 1900’s and was often used to help better understand how to isolate, grade and test muscles.
Particularly in clients who suffered from polio and infantile paralysis, the technique involved challenging the bio-feedback mechanism present in all muscles to reveal imbalances within the body. At its most simple, it involves gentle pressure on a midpoint of any muscle.
In the 1960’s American Chiropractor Dr. George Goodheart discovered that muscle testing could be used to gather information from the body. This unique interaction of eastern principles and western medicine inspired Goodheart to coin this system ‘Applied Kinesiology’ and it led to many chiropractors utilising these non-invasive, scientific techniques to maintain health in their clients physical, biochemical, psychological and spiritual body. This was primarily performed by embracing Chinese medicine techniques and utilising acupressure on points of the meridian system. The findings present in various ways, and the information gathered was used to help identify the root cause of symptoms and issues within the mind-body.
In the late 1970s ‘Touch for Health’, a form of Kinesiology, was developed by American Chiropractor Dr. John Thie to guide lay people in using simple but highly effective techniques for treating imbalances in the body. It aims to restore the human body into its natural state of health and was based on Applied Kinesiology research. Touch for Health also uses muscle testing or monitoring to assess energy and body function before applying a range of gentle, yet powerful, healing techniques to improve health and vitality. This system was soon taught throughout the world to help treat health and wellbeing in the community. Many forms of Kinesiology have developed from there, and so Kinesiology became the generic term for this natural therapy.
Australians spend over $1 billion annually on therapies not part of mainstream medicine. Kinesiology is one of the fastest growing of these and is now practised and recognised in over 100 countries. In Australia, we have a growing number of professional practitioners registered with the Australian Kinesiology Association (AKA), along with some world-renowned kinesiology researchers and teachers.