Applied Kinesiology began with Research and Philosophy from the Science of Chiropractic.

During the 1960's a new system of evaluation began to develop in Chiropractic. Dr George Goodheart DC of Detroit, Michigan, found that evaluation of normal and abnormal body function could be accomplished by using muscle tests. Since the original discovery, the principle has broadened to include evaluation of the nervous, vascular, and lymphatic systems, nutrition, acupuncture, and cerebrospinal fluid function. This system is called "Applied Kinesiology" (kih-nee'-see-awl'-oh-jee) or AK.

Applied Kinesiology or AK was developed by the Chiropractic Profession, mainly for use by Chiropractors, Medical Doctors and Dentists. This is differentiated from Specialised Kinesiology by the fact that Chiropractors are trained and licensed in most countries to adjust their patient's vertebrae, neck, back, pelvis etc. and as such the emphasis is on testing and correcting for the subluxations that they are finding.

Specialised Kinesiologists do not do these Chiropractic manipulative adjustments.

In 1964, he made the first correlation between finding a weak muscle and making it stronger. Since then he has looked beyond the chiropractic profession to the fields of medicine, osteopathy, acupuncture, dentistry, nutrition, biochemistry, etc.. for methods to increase the health and well being of the patient based on using the body as a diagnostic tool.

He has a unique way of looking at a problem and asking "Why?". This has allowed him to correlate many different types of examination and treatemnt procedures into a unified method of examining and then treating many difficult patient's.

Today, he still works in his office and lectures many week-ends of the year. He travels from europe to Japan and lectures throughout the United States. He produces a monthly research tape as well as a yearly manual on the latest findings in Applied Kinesiology.

Applied Kinesiology Is:

• A diagnostic system using muscle testing to augment normal examination procedures. It was founded and developed by Dr. George Goodheart, Jr., a Chiropractor. Further advances have been made by members of the International College of Applied Kinesiology
  
  
• A diagnostic tool that uses the neuromuscular system and other measurable parameters to aid in evaluating what is wrong and what to do for a patient.
  
  
• An Applied Kinesiology examination depends upon knowledge of functional neurology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and biochemistry and is combined with standard physical examination procedures, laboratory findings, x-rays and history taking.
  
  
• The different procedures developed by Dr. Goodheart and others in the International College of Applied Kinesiology are derived from many disciplines including Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Medicine, Dentistry, Acupuncture, Biochemistry, etc.., and are currently being used by doctors of Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Homeopathy, Dentistry and Medicine.
  
  
• An expanding body of knowledge that covers in depth the structural and chemical imbalances that are at the base of most patient's problems.
  
  
• Is based on chiropractic principles and requires manual manipulation of the spine, extremities and cranial bones as the structural basis of its procedures.

How Does It Work?

Muscle tests are applied to different areas of the body in a manner that evaluates a specific muscle. You will note from your examination that some muscles test strong and others appear extremely weak — perhaps the same muscle functions well on one side and poorly on the other. The “weakness” indicates not only poor muscle function, but also possible trouble with the organ and/or other tissue on the same nerve, vascular, and nutritional grouping. Further evaluation by the doctor reveals the “controlling” factor that might be at fault. If correction is successful, there will be a remarkable improvement in the muscle test.

Since nerves control body functions, including all the major systems, it is essential that a doctor be able to evaluate all the nerves in the body. For many years it has been easy for doctors to generally evaluate the peripheral nervous system, which controls muscles and elicits sensations such as hot, cold, deep touch, and soft touch. Applied Kinesiology gives a doctor added ability to evaluate function of the nervous system, which controls organs, glands, and other tissues.

This information is combined with other diagnostic findings to enhance the examination. An example; a nerve (or some other controlling factor) branches to control the psoas muscle and also the kidney. Actually, the common patterns of control are much more complex than this illustration indicates. The “neuronal pools” or meridian system may be involved, as well as many other factors. The muscle involvement provides the Chiropractor with an opportunity to determine when the nerve or some other factor is returned to normal and the body is “turned on.”

Therapy Localization

During the course of an examination, the doctor may test a muscle and then have you place a finger or hand in a certain spot on your body. S/he will then re-test the same muscle; sometimes there will be a remarkable change in its apparent strength. What the doctor is doing is using your hand to stimulate nerve receptors, or otherwise add or subtract energy in different centers. By doing this, one is able to obtain additional information that might indicate abnormal function. These tests, along with other clinical findings, help indicate the most effective treatment.


The symbol of the organization was designed in 1975. It starts with the back view of a person - with a balance symbol over the pelvis. This symbolizes that there must be a balance of different factors for health.

Around the person is a triangular structure. The three sides of the triangle are labeled structural, chemical and mental. These represent the three major areas of imbalance that create symptoms in a person. All health care is directed at at least one of these sides of the triangle. We call this the Triad of Health.

Surrounding the triangle, you will find five circles. These represent the structures that Dr Goodheart DC felt could be affected by imbalances in the spine that would create muscle weakness. These are the original areas that Goodheart taught about to correct muscle weakness patterns.

These are: nerve problems, lymphatic imbalances, vascular imbalances, cranial - sacral respiratory imbalances and acupuncture - meridian imbalances. Not depicted in the five circles are nutritional imbalances. These five different areas of involvement were termed the Five Factors of the IVF (intervertebral foramina - the place where the nerves exit the spine) because imbalances in the spine have been shown to cause imbalances in these five areas.

Applied Kinesiology procedures were developed from many different disciplines. From osteopathy came the general work on the cranial bone motion, from the orient a simplified approach to meridian imbalances, from chiropractic advanced techniques for correcting spinal/pelvic problems, from biochemistry the procedures for evaluating chemical pathways in the body, from physical medicine advanced procedures for treating muscle imbalances and the list goes on. From its beginning in the mid 60's, advances in diagnosis and treatment have been added yearly.

What is the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK)?

The origin of Applied Kinesiology (AK) is traced to 1964 when Dr George J. Goodheart Jr, DC, first observed that postural distortion (for example head tilt, high shoulder, high hip) is usually associated with muscles that test weak. He found that by applying the appropriate therapy, the muscle would test strong and the postural distortion would change.

The College (International College of Applied Kinesiology - ICAK) was founded in 1976 by a group of Chiropractic Doctors who had been teaching others in Applied Kinesiology. The purpose of the College is to promote research and the teaching of AK. It is a professional association dedicated to bringing together doctors and students with common interests and goals.

In addition to the ICAK-U.S.A. chapter, in the mid 1980s, the organization grew into chapters representing Australasia, Canada, and Europe. In late 1996, the European chapter was re-organized; Germany, Italy, England (U.K.), Scandinavia and BeNeLux are all recognized now as having official chapter status. Many more chapters are being added each year from other countries all over the world.

This section of this website is solely devoted to Chiropractors who practise Applied Kinesiology. They may also use many other methods which are not exclusively Chiropractic. The Chiropractic profession is a very large part of our health care system throughout the world, however, not all Chiropractors practise using Applied Kinesiology.

We will be setting this section up the same as the Kinesiology Practitioners one shortly, however in the mean time you can check under practitioners and look for names with DC following them. Good luck and good health. Share the message of holistic health with all your friends!