By Geoff Powell

Systematic Kinesiology has its roots deep in the practice and approach endorsed by the International College of Applied Kinesiology based in the United States. Practitioners use muscle testing to evaluate the underlying causes of symptoms. All evaluation and correction techniques used are subject to stringent research and evaluation procedures. A.S.K. graduates undergo a two-year training course. Kinesiology works to identify the main cause of disturbance in the presenting symptoms whether structural, emotional or nutritional in origin. Once having identified the main cause of a problem the use of the appropriate technique or combination of the three elements is employed to bring about a resolution of symptoms. In order to give an example of the three areas three short case histories are detailed.

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[slideritem title=””]Structural
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The presenting problem with this man, aged 57, was his inability to raise his arms above shoulder height without extreme discomfort and continuing levels of pain that required the constant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -principally Co-proxamol. Vertical range of movement was only about 45%. He had been a heavy goods vehicle driver but had been unable to work for the previous 12 years and was a registered invalid. Extensive tests, X-rays etc and physiotherapy had been unable to diagnose or alleviate the problem.
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On the first treatment muscle testing revealed weakness in deltoid/anterior deltoid/neck muscles. However, full treatment on this occasion was not practical because of the level of pain he experienced and inability to place the arms into testing positions. Corrections to those muscles showing weak were made by working on appropriate neurolymphatic and neurovascular reflexes.
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The second treatment followed a week later and although there had been some mild improvement there really had been no change in the range of movement of his arms. On this occasion because of his inability to test because of pain a “*surrogate” was used. On this occasion the correction I wished to make was a shoulder release technique often used with seized shoulders or post frozen shoulder immobility.
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However, because it requires moving the arms to almost full range to effect the release this could not be done on the client. In the more unusual situation where a technique cannot be applied to a client then it is appropriate to effect the technique on the surrogate while maintaining contact with the client. This seems to work rather like using the surrogate as an entry point on a computer to re-programme the information to the client. The correction was to work on the inner edge of the scapulae with pressure to the spine while raising the arm on inspiration. This was done on both arms.
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After applying this technique to the surrogate -with a certain amount of incredulity on the part of the client- he was then asked to try the vertical range of movement. He was able to accomplish almost 95% movement without pain.
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He was seen for a third and final occasion a fortnight later and still retained full range of movement and had stopped using NSAIDs. Some further release work was carried out on individual muscles and a course of L-Glutamine recommended to help deal with gut inflammation following prolonged use of the anti-inflammatories.
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*One of the most valuable tools in kinesiology is the use of another person as a surrogate when, for whatever reason, a muscle test cannot be undertaken on the client. The surrogate makes a skin contact with the client and when the surrogate’s muscles are tested they will reflect muscle imbalances present in the client.

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[slideritem title=””]Emotional
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This young man aged 25, presented with serious anxiety problems, agoraphobia, palpitations and panic attacks. He had a severe problem in coping with crossing bridges made more of a problem as his work entailed crossing from the mainland to the island of Anglesey. On the last occasion he had done this he had experienced such extreme difficulties that he couldn’t cross back from the island. He had accomplished this eventually by drinking a large volume of alcohol and crossing back on the floor of a taxi. He had subsequently been away from work for three months. He was currently using Beta blockers.
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His stated aim for the treatment was to be able to handle crossing bridges and consequently resume work.
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The most immediate presenting problem was his hyperventialtion pattern and acute fear that he would have some form of heart attack during his panic attacks. Relevant breathing information and a breathing relaxation tape started him working with this area. Re-framing the information that the panic attack was simply a physiological fight/flight response designed to protect the body from danger rather than threatening him helped reduce his anxiety in relation to the panic attacks. He was also encouraged to practise some basic brain integration techniques on a daily basis to help lessen panic moments, improve his thinking and co-ordination.
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Kinesiology contains a number of stress release techniques and these were applied to helping him look at the fear involved in crossing the bridge. Emotional Stress Release (ESR) using neurovascular forehead points took him through the last experience of crossing the bridge and emphasing the point that getting off the island, in the way he did, was creative problem solving and not a sign of weakness.
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His belief in his ability to achieve the goals he had set himself was strengthened using a simple affirmation technique reinforced using basic affirmations and reinforced by stimulating acupunture point S.I.3. (Small Intestine 3 )
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Allowing him to set his own goals we went next and looked at a second, less threatening, bridge crossing to the island. Before going he used the ESR technique and visualised the anxieties he might experience and also what he felt he would gain from the occasion. At the bridge the same ESR technique was used plus acupuncture points St 1 ( Stomach 1 ) to help release the build of tension he was experiencing. Correct breathing avoiding hyperventialtion was also emphasised. This pattern continued for four further occasions until he felt ready to cross the less threatening bridge. This was achieved successfully crossing and re-crossing four times. The Telford bridge, on which he felt more exposed, was then treated in the same way. He was encouraged to set his own goals until finally this bridge was crossed.
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Once this had been achieved crossing and re-crossing both bridges was done on a regular basis before he finally returned to work.
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[slideritem title=””]Nutritional
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This young woman of 25 presented with severe asthma/hayfever symptoms which had troubled her since she was 6 years old. She had allergic reactions to cats/horses/feathers. She was 3 stone over her desired body weight and was experiencing fatigue/joint pains/stomach pains/nausea. All symptoms were more severe around her period time.
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A simple analysis of her diet indicated some clear nutritional imbalances. She consumed an average of 6 cans of diet cola per day, was a regular sugar and chocolate user and a moderate smoker. Also a weekend alcohol drinker. Apart from her asthma ventilator she was not taking any current medication.
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Initial muscle testing results indicated low adrenal response with a hypoglycaemic pattern, Candidiasis and wheat intolerance. She agreed to eliminate the diet coke, cut out as many sugars as possible and in order to help lessen the impact on her diet a de-sensitisation technique for her wheat intolerance was carried out. This required eliminating wheat from her diet for four complete days with subsequent moderate use. To assist adrenal function Vitamin C 1g per day/Zinc 45mg per day and B-complex 100mg per day were tested. She was also asked to stimulate acupuncture points to assist adrenal function. To help cut back Candida Nutriscene Candidcurb 1 was used containing thyme, licorice, lapacho, black pepper, cayenne, tumeric and goldenseal.
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On her subsequent visit a de-sensitisation to cat fur was made. She had stayed off sugars and cola. She had almost cut out cigarettes. Stomach pains/nausea had stopped. She felt general improvement and had lost some weight.
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To balance Candida activity a full probiotic was added to re-balance gut flora. After the Candida clearance joint and muscle pains resolved and her allergic reactions to cats had almost resolved. Her adrenal and blood sugar pattern stabilised and her levels of energy improved. At this time she also began to experience greater freedom in her breathing and frequency of asthma attacks.
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Her period pattern was still continuing to present some problem so Magnesium at 200mg was tested and recommended along with Vitamin B6 at 100mg.
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Over the period of a year she continued to maintain her diet and also started to exercise regularly. Having passed through the last summer with minimal hayfever symptoms and not requiring the use of anti-histamine medication she feels she has experienced a major improvement. She had also lost over 2 stone in weight.
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About the Author:

Professional background: Geoff Powell trained originally as Touch for Health Instructor in 1986 and became a graduate member of the Academy of Systematic Kinesiology in 1990. He has specialised in stress management training and has been a facilitator for the Gwynedd Health Trust’s mental health care unit stress management courses since 1994. He runs stress management seminars for business and caring agencies. He was originally trained as an Iyengar yoga teacher and has been teaching since 1976. He conducts residential courses both in the UK and abroad. He is a member of the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA) and (ISMA) the International Stress Management Association (UK).

[boxibt style=”success”]Contact details:
Geoff Powell
Treddafydd
Waunfawr
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 4EZ
Tel: O1286 650647.
Email: gp@imagenet.prestel.co.uk

Prof. Association:
Academy Systematic Kinesiology (A.S.K.)
39 Brown’s Road
Surbiton
Surrey
KT5 8ST[/boxibt]