What is Applied Kinesiology?
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a person’s body is functioning. When properly applied, the outcome of an AK diagnosis will determine the best form of therapy for the patient. Since AK draws together the core elements of many complementary therapies, it provides an interdisciplinary approach to health care.

Applied Kinesiology is a healing system that evaluates and treats an individual’s structural, chemical, and mental aspects. It employs muscle testing and other standard methods of diagnosis. Applied Kinesiology therapeutically utilizes nutrition, manipulation, diet, acupressure, exercise, and education to help restore balance and harmony in the body and maintain well-being throughout life.

Kinesiology is the study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy related to human body movement, specifically the action of individual muscles or groups of muscles that perform specific movements.

What is an Applied Kinesiology examination?
Applied Kinesiology interactive assessment procedures represent a form of functional biomechanical and functional neurologic evaluation. The term “functional biomechanics” refers to the clinical assessment of posture, organized motion such as in gait, and ranges of motion. Muscle testing readily enters into the assessment of postural distortion, gait impairment and altered range of motion. During a functional neurologic evaluation, muscle tests are used to monitor the physiologic response to a physical, chemical or mental stimulus. The observed response is correlated with clinical history and physical exam findings and, as indicated, with laboratory tests and any other appropriate standard diagnostic methods. Applied Kinesiology procedures are not intended to be used as a single method of diagnosis. Applied Kinesiology examination should enhance standard diagnosis, not replace it.

In general, Dr. Flythe finds a muscle that tests weak and then attempts to determine why that muscle is not functioning properly. He will then evaluate and apply the therapy that will best eliminate the muscle weakness and help the patient.
Therapies utilized can include specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management and various reflex procedures.
In some cases, Dr. Flythe may test for environmental or food sensitivities by using a previously strong muscle to find what weakens it.

Applied Kinesiology uses the - triad of health - chemical, mental, and structural factors - to describe the proper balance of the major health categories.

The triad is represented by an equilateral triangle with structural health as its base, and the upright sides representing chemical and mental health. When a person experiences poor health, it is due to an imbalance in one or more of these three factors.

The triad of health is interactive and all sides must be evaluated for the underlying cause of a problem. A health problem on one side of the triad can affect the other sides. For example, a chemical imbalance may cause mental symptoms. Applied Kinesiology enables the practitioner to evaluate the triad's balance and direct therapy toward the imbalanced side or sides.

Applied Kinesiology in Sports
Doctors using Applied Kinesiology have a distinct advantage over other practitioners as they have specific diagnostic tools to determine the best therapy for the injured athlete.

These tools range from specific muscle treatments designed to normalize muscle activity to treatments designed to aid other damaged tissues like skin, ligaments, tendons, and joints.
Healing of strain-sprain type injuries goes through three distinct processes. Each requires special tools to maximize the return to normal functioning.

The first is termed the reaction phase and usually lasts up to 7 days. This is where there is the most pain and swelling. Treatment must reduce the swelling and pain and prevent further damage while the body begins to clean up and remove damaged tissue. Important issues here are diet, activation of lymphatic drainage, and control of inflammatory processes.

The second stage is called the regeneration phase and can start as early as two days after the injury and take up to 8 plus weeks. In this stage, the body rebuilds the damaged tissues. This is done through creation of a matrix of collagen. During this stage, treatment is aimed at making strong bonds and increasing normal actions in the joints. Special procedures can be used here to speed the rebuilding, start to reestablish lost strength and increase the range of motion and control of muscle function.

The final stage of healing is the remodeling phase. During this phase, muscles must fully regain their lost strength. Other important aspects are the coordination of muscular actions as well as reestablishing a full range of motion. Depending on the severity of injury, this phase starts as early as the 14th day and can take over a year. During this phase, therapies are used that are aimed at normalizing proprioception imbalances in the muscles and joint structures. A special use of muscle testing, used at this time, is to determine exactly how much you should exercise a muscle so that you aren’t re-injuring yourself.

One of the great advantages in using applied kinesiology is the ability to affect performance. Examples of such advantages range from increased breathing capacity in endurance athletes to increased accuracy in sports requiring eye-hand or eye-foot coordination.

George Goodheart, founder of Applied Kinesiology, was the first chiropractor named to the United States Olympic Medical Team in 1980. Since then, many other doctors in countries around the world have helped athletes in the Olympics. Doctors using Applied Kinesiology have been and continue to be important assets to professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer teams.