What is APPLIED KINESIOLOGY?
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing combined with other standard methods of diagnosis. AK, a non-invasive system of evaluating body function that is unique in the healing arts, has become a dynamic movement in health care in its relatively short existence.
The combined terms "applied" and "kinesiology" describe the basis of this system, which is the use of manual muscle testing to evaluate body function through the dynamics of the musculoskeletal system.
Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counseling skills, evaluating environmental irritants, and various reflex procedures.
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The "Triad of Health" describes the three basic causes of health problems:
1) Structural
2) Nutritional (Chemical)
3) Emotional (Mental)
Literally, all health problems, whether functional or pathological, are involved with one part or all parts of the triad.
Optimal health is achievable. Each side of the triad of health must be addressed and balanced for this to occur. Unfortunately, in today's health model, different health care specialties have dominance over different sides of the triad, making it impossible to work with the whole body to balance its needs and create optimal health.
Structural: Under traditional treatment models, many health care professionals address the needs of the body's structure, including orthopedists, physiatrists, and chiropractors. While many people think of structural issues of the body in terms of "slipped discs", twisted ankles, and broken bones, it really can be a much more involved process. Structural changes may compromise spaces within the body causing nerve and muscle imbalances. This involvement can occur virtually anywhere within the body, and result in inefficient communication between various organs and systems. Thus, structural issues may cause illnesses and disorders that appear non-structural in nature. These "illness" are often treated through non-structural means and since the underlying physical issues are not addressed the symptoms may reoccur without lasting results.
Nutritional: When the body's full nutritional needs are evaluated, other issues may be identified. The body may have a toxicity that must be addressed or too much or not enough of a specific nutrient that must be balanced. These nutritional issues may also be linked to structural and emotional issues. Addressing the body's nutritional needs is critical to achieving optimal health.
Emotional: The emotional (or mental) side of the health triad tends to be dominated by the psychiatric field of medicine in today's society. While this branch of medicine can be useful in some situations, this specialty rarely looks at the whole person when addressing emotional needs. Research is bearing out the fact that many emotional conditions such as depression, attention deficit, etc., can be caused by structural and nutritional issues such as low blood sugar or blood sugar handing issues, disorganized nervous systems, etc. When a person's emotional or mental issues are addressed independently of the body's other systems, a condition may be managed but it is rarely eliminated.
This philosophy of The Triad of Health is not new to chiropractic, as its founder, D.D. Palmer states in his text, The Science, Art, and Philosophy of Chiropractic, "The determining causes of disease are traumatism, poison, and autosuggestion."
Applied Kinesiology (AK) enables the doctor to evaluate the triad's functional balance, and direct therapy toward the imbalanced side or sides. The physician who is aware of the triad of health, and evaluates every patient for all three sides, increases their ability to find the basic underlying cause of a patient's health problem.
AK skills are developed and approved by the International College of Applied Kinesiology's Board of Standards. These skills are refined from many disciplines including Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Medicine, Dentistry, Acupuncture, Biochemistry, Psychology, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy etc. Members of these professions share knowledge through the publications and conferences of the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK).
©2006-2008 Copyright ICAK USA
