Teachers of basic Applied Kinesiology procedures are well aware of the fact that the major problem of proper muscle testing is the mastering and respect of the technical procedures : proper angulation of the part to be tested, respect of the applied strength/resistance chronology, amount of force applied, respect of the direction of the strength applied, and so on...
The main difficulty is due to the fact that all these parameters have to be respected at the same time. However, it is already part of a standard learning process. It is obviously a difficult task and these parameters will only be mastered with experience.
But the picture is actually much more complicated than that. Careful observation and curiosity have made itobvious that several until now poorly recognized factors will modify a muscle strength response to a given force.
Some of the factors which will be described are well known in the field of Applied Kinesiology3, some are modified and others are new. However, all have their importance and cannot be neglected. They all require full attention by the "testor".

1) Bone tapping
The original theory of the Melzak-Wall Gate Theory4 generally refers to pain and pain control. Proper understanding of its function and of the interaction between the so called T cells and the Substantia gelatinosa, the stimulating and/or inhibitory process behind and its relation to the brain is not only considered in relation to pain, but also to pressure. It allows an adaptative process through the awareness of the brain. Bone tapping (e.g. on fibular head when testing the tensor fascia lata) will open the gate and bring more awareness. It will potentialize the muscular response, making it more clearly " weak or strong ”.

2) Neurological Disorganisation
Two categories have been distinguished5 :
- Homolateral Standing Gait (Central Neurological Disorganisation).This type, being central, has a very important potential of reflecting its basic manifestation on muscles tonic synchronisation (homolateral versus controlateral muscle tonicity).
- Switching (Peripheral Neurological Disorganisation). Has always been recognized as a factor susceptible to take away any consistancy in muscle testing3.
3) Recruitment
Extensively described in the litterature3, the recruitment phenomenon is the activation of some muscle groups to cancel a potential weakness of the muscle being tested. It can manifest itself in different manners, the most common being pelvic or head elevation from the table and slight flexion (often even imperceptible) of a peripheral articulation.
4) Hand/finger "short-circuiting"
Our observation has led to the conclusion that often the CNS of the patient manages to induce a short-circuit.
Any muscle is related to a specific meridian. Meridian energy consists of a flow of electrons. Hand and finger polarity have been described. Therefore, surface hand or finger contact either directly on the concerned meridian or indirectly on a related compensatory meridian (over or under) can "electronically" interfere with this flow, potentially modifying the muscle response. This might also be true for the contact hand of the therapist.
5) Head Position
Besides contraction of muscles in flexion or extension for recruitment purpose as mentioned before, head position relates to other parameters.
Each meridian has a vertebral relation through its so called "association point". I t is known that we will find a related vertebral subluxation at the corresponding level. These relations are dorsal, lumbar and sacral with the exception of the cervical levels.
The cervical implication is through the Lovett reactor6 correspondance (C1-L5, C2-L4 and so on..). Any tilt or rotation of the head which might either reduce or increase a potentially present subluxation will affect by reflex the related Lovett vertebra and therefore the related meridian through its association point. This will modify the energetic disponibility of the tested muscle through its related meridian.
6) Position of feet/legs
a) in the laying or sitting position :
Homolateral standing gait reflects a pathological cross over of a sensory/motor CNS mechanism. Feet crossing over each other and knee crossing represent an attempt by the CNS to use the gait reflex as a compensatory measure to modify the muscle response upon testing. If strength is applied by the limbs, then recruitment superposes itself to the picture.
b) in the standing position :
Testing for standing homolateral gait requires strict attention, as the slightest position change of either the forward or backward foot will affect the result. For example, slightly backing up the forward foot will be interpreted by the brain as "I am going backward" therefore reversing the overall muscle stimulation/inhibition pattern and giving opposite muscle strength information.
7) Tongue Position
The tongue is commonly used by the CNS to modify the outcome of a muscle test procedure when it would show to be weak. It can be used by upward pressure on the palatine bone or suture to modifying an existing cranial fault, laterally to modify the laterality of the occipital bone, by pressure on a neurological tooth to increase or decrease the flow of a related meridian, or downward to induce recruitment through the suprahyoid muscles.
8) Mechanical Leverage on the Teeth
Any consistant material (chewing gum, food,...) can be used to modify the position of a neurological tooth or induce a leverage effect on the cranium by being compressed between the teeth, therefore modifying potentially present cranial faults and their resulting interferences
9) Sphincter Synergy
In 1993 Georges Curchod DC7 described a technique which originated in Israel and was developped by Paula Garbor and (was) published in 1983 in hebrew. To summarize, Paula Garbor developped a technique of sphincter contraction exercises, each sphincter having to be trained individually. The base concept behind it was that all sphincters of the body are synergistic and/or antagonistic, and energy mobilizators. This is obvious when we try to picture the grin and face of a weightlifter, or of somebody attempting to make a heavy physical effort, trying to gain strength.
Under some circumstances, individual sphincter weaknesses might take place, interfering with the harmony of that chain. Individual training of the sphincter is the key. This technique is poorly known, eventhough amazing results were claimed. . It seems that clinical evaluation of this technique is being made by the Medical University of Tel Aviv.
However, attentive observation has led us to the conclusion that this sphincter energetical chain is very commonly used by the CNS to compensate a muscle weakness upon testing. Any facial (eye or mouth ) or diaphragmatic sphincter contraction by the patient has to be stopped and re-testing done.

Discussion

In order to be fully reliable, a muscle test procedure absolutely must take into consideration a number of parameters and respect them.
Manual tapping on a bone (cf 1) has to be the first step to take in order to make the body more receptive. Homolateral standing gait (cf 2a) has to be corrected. Unswitching (cf 2b) has to be sufficiently and repetitively done.
Then, the patient should not be allowed to change position or even slightly bend a limb (cf 3), touch any part of his body with the hand or a finger and the therapist should be aware of the position of his own hands (cf 4); the patient should not make any head tilt or rotation (cf 5), cross his feet or legs (cf 6); it should be carefully noticed if the patient seems to make any specific motion with the tongue (cf. 7); the oral cavity has to be empty (cf. 8) and any grin or "faces" should be stopped and re-testing done without it (cf. 9).
Conclusion

A muscle testing procedure is very complex. Besides the obvious technical skills required, the basic function of the CNS (analysis and compensation) has to be constantly respected because it will allways be fully in action to compensate the muscle "weakness" the trained specialist is looking for.
Only strict respect of basic rules and proper understanding of the neurological compensatory mechanisms will allow to rely upon the results of a muscle test procedure. It is the mandatory price to pay to have constant reproducible parameters.

It is the author's opinion that the use of a "pendulum" type of muscle testing (referring to non professional esoteric behaviour) is to be banished from the specialized field of Applied Kinesiology. The respect of these basic rules will avoid lack and/or loss of our scientific credibility.
We would suggest to the "non professionals" the use of a real pendulum (or other device) to avoid any confusion (detrimental for us) with the use of manual muscle testing and its interpretation.

References

1) Gin, R.H., & B.N. Green, " George Goodheart, Jr., D.C., and a history of applied kinesiology, ” J Manip Physiol Ther,Vol 20, No5 (Jun 1997).
2) Goodheart, G.J., Jr., Applied Kinesiology (Detroit: privately published, 1964).
3) Walther, David, S., Applied Kinesiology, Synopsis, 2nd edition, Systems D.C., Pueblo, Colorado, 1999.
4) Melzak, R., The Puzzle of Pain (New York: Basic Books, Inc, 1973).
5) Barras, Michel, Neurological Disorganisation, Proceedings of I.C.A.K.-U.S.A, Vol.I, 1998-1999.
6) Goodheart, G., Jr., 1972 Applied Kinesiology Workshop Manual (Detroit: privately published, 1972).
7) Curchod, Georges, Le rapport Garbour, Newsletter, Swiss Chiropractic Association, 1993.



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