What is Applied Kinesiology (AK)?
Applied Kinesiology is a unique system for evaluating body function or dysfunction by means of muscle tests. It is a holistic technology, addressing the entire person (structure, chemistry, & emotions), rather than just one isolated part. It gives the doctor very detailed information about the underlying cause of a patient's health problems and even aids in choosing the best mode of treatment (homeopathic remedies, chiropractic adjustments, etc.)
What is muscle testing?
During a muscle test, the patient is asked to apply force in one direction (commonly with the arm or leg), while the doctor applies force in the opposite direction. The extent to which the patient is able to resist the opposing force indicates the result of the test.
The common misconception about muscle testing is that it reveals whether a muscle is strong or weak. But muscle testing has nothing to do with strength or muscle tone! Rather, when performing a muscle test, an AK practitioner is evaluating how well the muscle is functioning neurologically. That is, your nervous system ultimately decides which muscles to "facilitate" (enable) and which to "inhibit" (disable) at any given time. So when a muscle that should be facilitated tests "weak," this doesn't point to a muscle problem – it indicates a communication problem. By observing your body’s ability (or inability) to communicate, a good AK practitioner can obtain information about your overall health and accurately identify specific patterns of disharmony.
"I have symptom X. What's wrong with me?"
Each person is a unique individual with a different internal makeup. Therefore, two people can present identical symptoms and in fact have entirely different diagnoses, requiring different forms of treatment. Only after conducting a proper history and examination can Dr. Sherman tell you what the source of the problem is and suggest a line of treatment. But what we can suggest if you are not feeling 100% is that you call the office and make an appointment. Together, we will work to identify the problem and get you back on the road to optimum health.
"How long will it take to correct? Will I have to come three times a week for the rest of my life?"
The answer to the second question is 99% NO. In most cases, you will come in twice a week for the first two weeks, after which we will reassess. In very severe cases, we may continue at the same frequency for a longer period, but most likely you will only need to come in intermittently (ranging from once a week to once a month) until the problem is resolved and you’ve reached your healing goals.
As far as how long the process takes, this is difficult to say because as we explained above, every person is unique. The rate of healing varies from one individual to the next. What we can do is closely monitor your progress during the initial two weeks. The best indicator of the time it takes to heal is how your body responds to treatment. And the best way to do that is to start the healing process now!
