Catherine Frith

Kinesiology and Pain Relief

What is Kinesiology

The word Kinesiology is defined as the study of motion and muscle co-ordination to move the body.  This therapy has evolved and diversified over the last few decades combining Western techniques and Eastern wisdom.

The development of Kinesiology began with Doctors, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists who compiled scientific, evidence-based studies which began in the early 1900s.

The key technique used in Kinesiology is ‘Muscle monitoring’ as a method of biofeedback from the body. It’s an effective tool for detecting and correcting various body imbalances. These imbalances may relate to stress, identifying substances that weaken the body, learning problems, injuries, unwanted patterns or programmes in our body’s bio-computer to balance muscles that do not fire up properly. Muscle monitoring enables Kinesiologists to identify and restore the body’s physical and energetic systems.

Professional Kinesiology practitioners undertake years of study and training to access the movement of energy – or what the Chinese call ‘Chi’ – throughout the body.

Kinesiology is practised in over 120 countries and is one of the fastest growing therapies in the world.

THE TRIAD OF HEALTH 

History

The origins of Kinesiology have an interesting history and can be dated back to the 1900s. Orthopaedic surgeon R.W Lovett, was working with analysing the effects of polio and nerve damage. He discovered muscles that tested weak often had a common spinal nerve. This was the first stage of Kinesiology – muscle monitoring.

Then in the 1930s osteopath Frank Chapman had an idea that by stimulating with finger pressure over specific points on the body, lymphatic function would improve in a certain organ of the body. Most of the points were found to be around the spine or rib cage area. Dr Chapman found that it was often possible to strengthen the organ by just stimulating the reflex point. Commonly referred to today as neuromyopathic reflex points.

In 1949, Henry & Florence Kendall both prominent physiotherapists, modified and systemised Lovetts ideas based primarily on their extensive work in polio research. They set a whole new standard of detail for musculoskeletal examination and treatment.  they reported on their study of 12,000 cases to illustrate and diagnose numerous diseases and other painful conditions associated with faulty body mechanics and alignment. Muscle testing became a new science in the field of Academic Kinesiology, supplying the in-depth analysis of the exact motion of muscles and the way they move joints.

The 1960s provide us with great research by Dr George Goodhart. He took an interest that the work of the Kendall’s, then discovering that muscle testing could be used to gather information from the body. He found that some muscles would test weak, were hypertonic, when certain types of disease conditions were present. This system was called ‘Applied Kinesiology’ and saw many chiropractors embracing Chinese medicine techniques of acupressure and meridian systems. Dr Goodheart brought together the work done by his predecessors creating his unique techniques

In the 1970s, a protégé of Goodhearts, Dr Alan Beardall, developed a diagnostic procedure that incorporated the use of all therapeutic techniques. He established muscle tests for over 250 muscles as well as assignments for computer numbers to all the muscles of the body. Dr Beardall presents each individual muscle tests along with the factors that need to be considered to restore healthy muscle function. This included various kinds of reflex points, nutrition, as well as a method to determine the emotional component, establishing the body as a biocomputer. Thus, establishing Energetic Kinesiology.

John Thei, a chiropractor had a major influence in bringing muscle monitoring and correctional techniques for non-professionals to use. He made it accessible for all to use by developing a programme called “Touch for Health”