Traditionally
Kinesiology (pronounced kin-easy-ology) refers to the study of
muscles and movement in the body and is widely used in this context
by physical educators, coaches and physiotherapists.
However,
in the natural health field the term Kinesiology is seen and
used in a wider context. Here, muscles become monitors of stress
and imbalance within the body, "Muscle Testing" is
used to detect and correct various imbalances in the body which
may relate to stress, nutrition, learning difficulties, dyslexia,
pain, injuries and so on.
Kinesiology
is a touch therapy that links traditional Chinese acupuncture,
meridians and energy balancing with Western muscle testing and
anatomy and physiology. The idea is to bring about balance in
the body by releasing energy blocks, eliminating toxins, reducing
tension and enhancing the body's natural healing ability. A
system of natural health care that treats the person as a whole
and restores balance.
WHERE
DID KINESIOLOGY COME FROM?
Kinesiology
has its roots in the early sixties with George Goodheart,
an American Chiropractor. Dr Goodheart began muscle testing
to evaluate muscle performance, posture and general structural
imbalances. His continued research led to him to link the
meridian energy flow with muscle and organs. This work also
included discoveries of other corrective treatments. Goodheart
developed this system which he called 'Applied Kinesiology'
and shared this knowledge with other chiropractors and professionals.
John
Thie D.C. , One of the early graduates of A.K. had the vision
of sharing this information with the wider population so they
could learn to help themselves. This simplified self help
method he created is called Touch for Health. Since the inception
of Touch for Health, Kinesiology has been taught to millions
of people all the world over in many languages.
Further
Kinesiology systems have developed since these early days
and are being taught to individuals from all walks of life.
People from office workers to athletes use kinesiology in
their every day lives to upgrade their well being, keep aches
and pains at bay, reduce stress, improve their performance
and help themselves to better health. It is utilised by doctors,
dentists, teachers, sports coaches, chiropractors, herbalists,
osteopaths, nutritionists, counsellors and other natural health
care practitioners in their work.
One
of the greatest virtues of Kinesiology is its versatility.
Its concepts and techniques can be applied almost anywhere
at anytime. They can be expanded upon to meet individual needs
and can be used to work on oneself, within the family or in
the professional situation.
WHAT
CAN KINESIOLOGY DO?
Kinesiology
truly is an holistic therapy, treating as it does the person
as a whole. Working with the mind and emotions as well as
the body to improve a persons well-being.It can help with
a wide variety of health problems that affect the body's mental,chemical,
structural and electro-magnetic systems.. It can help change
attitude, belief systems and behaviour. It can improve co-ordination,
reading, writing, sports performance and artistic skills.
It can help detect food intolerances, nutritional needs, allergies
and addictions. Kinesiology is not a panacea but it does offer
a very precise way of assessing and correcting imbalances.
The following list conveys some idea of the wide variety of
conditions that kinesiology can and has helped:
| accident
trauma |
digestive
disorders |
knee
problems |
| acne |
dizziness |
learning
difficulties |
| addictions |
earache |
low
back pain |
| allergies
|
eating
disorders |
lumbago |
| anxiety |
eczema |
memory
poor |
| arthritis |
elbow
pain |
menopause |
| asthma |
emotional
stress |
mental
strain |
| attitudes |
eyes |
migraine |
| backache |
fallen
arches |
mood
swings |
| bed
wetting |
fatigue |
neck
ache |
| behavioural
problems |
fears |
nightmares |
| bladder
problems |
food
intolerances |
obesity |
| breast
soreness |
frozen
shoulder |
panic
attacks |
| breathing
difficulties |
haemorrhoids |
period
pains |
| bursitis |
hay
fever |
PMT |
| candida |
headaches |
prostrate |
| carpal
tunnel syndrome |
hiatus
hernia |
rheumatism |
| catarrh |
high
blood pressure |
sciatica |
| chronic
fatigue syndrome (ME) |
hip
pain |
self
esteem, poor |
| clumsiness |
hyperactivity |
shock |
| concentration,
lack of |
hyperglycarmia |
sinusitis |
| co-ordination,
poor |
ileocaecal
valve syndrome |
skin
disorders |
| cramps |
insomnia |
vision
impairment |
| crying
for no reason |
irritable
bowel |
weight
problems |
| depression |
joint
pain |
whiplash |
Consultations
This
section is designed to help you find a practitioner in your
area who has the right combination of skills to meet your
needs. All kinesiologists work with the intention of restoring
harmony and balance to the body. Some may emphasise particular
areas, in their work, nutrition, allergies, learning difficulties
or emotions. Many professional practitioners, in counselling,
aromatherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, dentistry and homeopathy
combine kinesiology with their skills.
Most
Kinesiology sessions will last for an hour. Some practitioners
will send you a questionnaire prior to your first visit, most
will take a detailed history at the first session, others
will work more intuitively. The assessment will include muscle
testing, which means placing arms and legs in specific positions
and asking you to hold as the therapist applies gentle pressure.
Muscle test are performed while you are lying down on a treatment
couch, other times it may be more appropriate to have you
sitting, standing or even in a position that is relevant to
your problem, e.g. if you have been in an accident or want
to improve a sports skill. This is the information gathering
part of the session. Corrections will vary according to what
your body says it needs, it could involve nutrition support,
rubbing or lightly touching specific points on the body, tracing
meridians, dietary changes and so on. You will experience
changes during your first visit. The Kinesiologist will advise
you about further sessions and may give you some self help
techniques to do which will support the healing process.
