Dr George Goodheart, an American chiropractor, the acknowledged founder of kinesiology in 1964, used the model of muscle testing to evaluate what he was doing chiropractically. The model of muscle testing he used was developed in the 1930s by the husband and wife team of Kendal and Kendal (See ref 1).

Stanley Hoppenfeld MD who was assistant clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (U.S.) used muscle testing to evaluate the neurological function of the muscle (See ref 2).

In neurology textbooks muscle testing is defined as “a means of testing the motor function of limbs”. Therefore muscle testing was already accepted as a valid technique and used extensively in orthopaedic medicine by physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths.

As interest grew in utilising this technique Dr Goodheart drew together a group of doctors who were also interested in developing this further and the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) was formed. As part of the foundation of expanding the application of muscle testing the team took on board work done by Bennet and Chapman with regard to the lymphatic system. They also looked at the subtle energy system as used within acupuncture.

This then was the basis of muscle testing that was to develop and become known as Applied Kinesiology (AK).

Dr. John Thie

Dr John Thie, one of the original members of this research team, led by Dr Goodheart, recognised the need to educate the public in many of the self-help techniques within AK and this educational programme then became known as Touch For Health (TFH), a programme for the lay person and is taught and used throughout the world.

Today, Applied Kinesiology is regularly utilised by osteopaths, chiropractors and dentists.

Systematic Kinesiology has expanded further from the concepts of TFH, but still uses and teaches techniques researched by the physicians of ICAK.