If you've visited a naturopath, massage therapist, osteopath or other holistic practitioner, you might have experienced muscle testing, which is a diagnostic tool that uses pressure to test for muscle weakness. A holistic practitioner uses muscle testing to determine your mental and emotional state, the parts of your body on which she should focus during a treatment, and other any issues relevant to your healing. Muscle testing is not a replacement for conventional medical diagnoses.
Theory
Muscle testing is a holistic and alternative medical practice that relies on the idea that your body is, at its most fundamental level, an energetic system. When a practitioner touches an organ reflex point or engages a negative emotion or stress trigger, your body drains energy into that area or thought, and your muscles become weak and less able to resist pressure, says Michael Phillips, a holistic chiropractor and nutritionist, writing on the website Healing Through Nutrition, Living Well on Purpose.
History
Muscle testing was created by a chiropractor, George Goodheart, in the 1960s. Noting correspondences between major muscle groups and internal organ health, Goodheart created a map of the body that allowed him to diagnose internal issues by checking for muscle weakness, according to Phillips. Chiropractor D.A. Versendaal expanded Goodheart's work by finding that he could test for weakness by touching an organ reflex point and pushing down on a patient's arm. Psychiatrist John Diamond later discovered that muscle testing worked to uncover his patients' areas of emotional conflict or stress.
Uses
Muscle testing goes by many names: applied kinesiology, specialized kinesiology and touch for health. Muscle and organ balancing is among the primary uses of muscle testing, according to the website of the Canadian Association of Specialized Kinesiology. Other uses include brain integration, a practice that allows the mind and body to work together to optimize learning. Emotional stress release allows practitioners to identify and defuse unhealthy patterns and past trauma. Muscle testing for food intolerances allows people to monitor and fine tune their dietary choices, but if you suspect you have a food allergy, get tested by a conventional medical allergist.
Self-Testing
To learn more about muscle testing, go to a holistic practitioner who can offer you information about this practice. To try muscle self-testing, form an O by pressing the index finger and thumb together on your non-dominant hand, advises Susan Courtney, energy psychologist and co-author of the "Association for Meridian Energy Therapies Yearbook 2003." Put the thumb of your other hand through the O, then press the index finger against it to make interlocking rings. Think about the word "yes," and try to pull your dominant hand out of the O. It will probably hold. Think about the word "no," and pull. You will probably note that it is easier to break through the loop.
What to Expect
When you go to a holistic practitioner who uses muscle testing, he might ask you to stretch out your arm and resist as he pushes down on it. A common practice is to ask you to say "no," and tell you to resist the push, so he can get a sense of how strong or weak you are when dealing with a negative thought. Muscle testing experts shouldn't wrestle with clients -- they usually try to develop a clear sense of how much pressure is required to differentiate between a strong and weak response, Courtney says.
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