A Balanced Living
The body hears everything the mind has to say
- Namoi
What is Kinesiology?
Kinesiology means ‘the study of movement’. The term is also used by complementary and alternative medicine practitioners to describe a form of therapy that uses muscle monitoring (biofeedback) to look at what may be causing ‘imbalances’ in the body and attempts to relieve these imbalances.
The kinesiology approach examines ‘unresolved stress reactions’ in a person and provides techniques intended to assist the body’s natural healing process.
How did kinesiology develop?
Kinesiology stems from chiropractics and applied kinesiology. It is also based on the ancient Chinese acupuncture theory of chi energy. Unlike applied kinesiology, where muscles are tested for strength, the more recently developed forms of kinesiology use muscle monitoring as a form of biofeedback to the subject.
How kinesiology works ?
The human nervous system is designed to self-regulate and adapt to change. When we cannot adapt efficiently, the muscles will reflect the stress in the central nervous system. This stress creates specific muscle patterns that kinesiologists can assess using muscle monitoring techniques.
The easiest way to understand this process is to think of the signals between the brain and the body as feedback loops. As the brain adapts to the changes in the muscle systems, the muscles send signals to alert the brain that the changes have taken place.
Muscle monitoring may indicate a wide variety of possible causes of imbalances in a person’s overall wellbeing.
Kinesiology therapy aims to stimulate the body’s energy so that untapped potential can be released. Kinesiology uses a multilevel approach to treatment. Practitioners look for the subtle but numerous imbalances that may lie behind physical, mental and emotional problems. Kinesiologists may be able to help assist in a wide range of health problems, including:
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Stress
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Muscular disorders
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Nervous disorders
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Nutritional deficiencies
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Emotional problems
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Learning and behavioural difficulties.
Kinesiology procedure ?
A kinesiology practitioner begins by recording the person’s relevant history (in confidence). The session itself commences with the person remaining fully clothed and lying comfortably face-up on a massage table. Each session can include several tests or challenges performed at various times depending on the nature of the person’s problem.
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Physical challenge – the practitioner tests neuromuscular integrity (biofeedback) by asking the person to position an arm or leg in a certain way, and then to hold that position while the practitioner exerts gentle pressure against the limb.
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Mental challenge – the patient thinks about certain things or focuses on their feelings while the practitioner performs a specific muscle test. The test may indicate an energy imbalance or stress that needs attention.
The client sees and experiences first-hand all changes that have been made, especially when confirmed through the muscle-monitoring process.
Some of the techniques available include:
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Emotional release
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Acupressure
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Lymphatic massage
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Hypertonic muscle release
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Attention to reflex, trigger and body points
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Remedies, such as flower essences and homoeopathics
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Nutritional advice.
Medical evidence in support of kinesiology is limited
Many nervous system diseases can affect muscle strength. Kinesiology is based on an energy model of health (not a medical one), and little scientific research has tested the underlying philosophy and claims of benefit. People who have undergone professional kinesiology sessions, however, have testified that stress is relieved by kinesiology and they feel their quality of health is improved.
*information above from fact sheet on http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Kinesiology website.