What is applied kinesiology?
If you’ve searched for kinesiology in Sydney, you’ve probably come across the term applied kinesiology and wondered how it relates to what a kinesiologist does today. It’s a fair question, because the word “kinesiology” is used in several different ways.
In this article I’ll explain where applied kinesiology came from, how kinesiology has changed since, and what a session with me actually involves.
Three meanings of “kinesiology”
1. Kinesiology as a movement science. In universities, especially in North America, kinesiology means the study of human movement: anatomy, biomechanics and exercise physiology. A kinesiology degree there is closer to exercise science.
2. Applied kinesiology. A system developed by an American chiropractor, Dr George Goodheart, in the 1960s. He used manual muscle testing alongside chiropractic assessment.
3. Kinesiology as a complementary therapy. This is the kinesiology most Australians mean, and what I practise. It grew out of applied kinesiology and uses gentle muscle monitoring as a feedback tool, combined with techniques to reduce stress and help people perform at their best.
Where applied kinesiology began
In 1964, Dr Goodheart observed that a muscle that tested weak could sometimes test strong after he worked on it. From this he developed applied kinesiology, drawing on chiropractic, nutrition and ideas from traditional Chinese medicine about meridians.
Goodheart also popularised the “triangle of health”, the idea that wellbeing has three connected sides: structural (the body), chemical (nutrition and biochemistry) and mental or emotional. Many kinesiologists still use that idea today.
From applied kinesiology to Touch for Health
In the 1970s, Dr John Thie, a chiropractor who worked with Goodheart, created Touch for Health. It took the ideas of applied kinesiology out of the clinic and into a simple system that ordinary people could learn to use for themselves and their families.
Touch for Health was where my own training began. I later taught it, before going on to advanced training with the International College of Professional Kinesiology Practice (ICPKP).
From Touch for Health, many branches developed, often called specialised or energetic kinesiology. They put more emphasis on stress, emotions, learning and performance, and less on the chiropractic and nutritional focus of the original applied kinesiology.
Applied kinesiology vs kinesiology today
| Applied kinesiology | Kinesiology as practised today | |
|---|---|---|
| Who practises it | Mostly chiropractors and other health practitioners | Trained kinesiologists |
| Main focus | Structure, nutrition and chiropractic assessment | Stress, emotions, learning, focus and performance |
| Muscle testing used for | Assessment within a chiropractic framework | Feedback on how your body responds to stress, goals and ideas |
What the research says about applied kinesiology
It’s important to be clear about this. Scientific reviews have not found that muscle testing can diagnose medical conditions or nutritional problems reliably. If someone tells you muscle testing has found a disease, a deficiency or an allergy, get it checked by your GP.
Kinesiology is a complementary therapy. It doesn’t replace medical diagnosis or treatment, and a good kinesiologist will always encourage you to keep working with your doctor and other health professionals.
How I use muscle monitoring
In my practice, I use muscle monitoring as feedback, not diagnosis. I’m not looking for illness. I’m noticing how your body responds when we talk about a goal, a stressful situation or a pattern you keep running into.
A typical session looks like this:
- Assess. We talk through what’s happening and what you want to change.
- Balance. I use gentle muscle monitoring to find where stress is showing up, then techniques to help release it.
- Perform. You leave with more clarity and a simple next step to take into work, study or home life.
Clients often tell me they feel calmer, lighter or clearer afterwards. Everyone’s experience is different, and I don’t promise particular outcomes.
Choosing a kinesiologist in Australia
Kinesiology isn’t a government-registered health profession in Australia, so it’s worth asking a few questions:
- What training do you have, and where? Look for a recognised college and ongoing professional development.
- Do you belong to a professional association? Membership usually requires training standards, insurance and a code of conduct.
- How do you work with medical care? A good practitioner works alongside your GP, never instead of them.
If you’d like to know more about my background, read about me, or see how I help with stress and burnout.
Your next step
If stress, overwhelm or old patterns are getting in the way of how you want to live and work, a session can help you find what’s going on and what to do next.
Book your kinesiology assessment in Sydney City or Surry Hills, or call +61 421 055 680.
This article is general information only and isn’t medical advice.
About the author
Sharrda Mani is a Sydney kinesiologist, coach and qualified educator, and the founder of Kinesiology for Performance. She discovered kinesiology in 2004 after three years of part-time study in somatic psychotherapy, trained with the International College of Professional Kinesiology Practice (ICPKP) and has taught Touch for Health. She holds an Honours degree in Mathematics Education and spent years as a business analyst and project manager, so she knows the pressure of work and study first-hand. She is writing a practical guide to ADHD in everyday life.