Applied+Kinesiology+Meridian+Therapy

The basic examination technique used in Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a manual muscle test [[|1]]. Applied Kinesiology is a system of evaluating body reactions to different stimuli that interact with the nervous system [[|2]]. Recent reviews highlight historical, practical and methodological aspects of manual muscle testing [[|3]-[|5]]. During the development of AK [[|1]], Goodheart described an association between meridians and individual muscles. The sedation and tonification acupoints of the corresponding meridian were used in a similar way as in acupuncture. These effects are based on the relations defined by the Five Elements (//wuxing//): Water (//shui//), Wood (//mu//), Fire (//huo//), Earth (//tu//) and Metal (//jin//) (Table [|1]). Tonification is based on the generating or mother-child relation, i.e. the //sheng// cycle [[|6]]. Sedation is based on the inverse or child-mother relation [[|6]]. In clinical practice, the use of these acupoints induces changes in the strength of the muscle being examined which can be perceived by the examiner as well as by the patient. When sedation is applied, muscle tone will diminish; when tonification is applied, muscle tone will increase.

A further development of AK was made by Burtscher //et al.// [[|7]] leading to a technique called AK meridian therapy (AKMT). While the name AKMT is similar to that of Goodheart [[|1]] and Walther [[|2]], Burtscher expands the regulatory possibilities of AK through the use of element acupoints of associated meridians according to the Five Elements [[|6]] in order to achieve sedation or tonification (Table [|2]).
 * **Mother-and-child Five Element acupoints of Chinese medicine and associated muscles according to Applied Kinesiology** ||
 * Meridian || Element || Mother acupoint
 * ~tonification** || Child acupoint
 * ~sedation** || Associated muscles ||
 * Lung || Metal || LU9 || LU5 || Deltoids, Serratus anterior ||
 * Large intestine || Metal || LI11 || LI2 || Hamstrings, Tensor fascia lata ||
 * Stomach || Earth || ST41 || ST45 || Pectoralis major clavicular, Sternocleidomastoideus ||
 * Spleen || Earth || SP2 || SP5 || Latissimus dorsi ||
 * Heart || Fire || HT9 || HT7 || Subscapularis ||
 * Small intestine || Fire || SI3 || SI8 || Rectus abdominis, Rectus femoris ||
 * Urinary bladder || Water || UB67 || UG65 || Peroneus, Tibialis anterior ||
 * Kidney || Water || KI7 || KI1 || Iliopsoas ||
 * Pericardium || Fire || PC9 || PC7 || Gluteus medius, Gluteus maximus, Piriformis, Adductors ||
 * Triple heater || Fire || TH3 || TH10 || Teres Minor, Infraspinatus ||
 * Gall bladder || Wood || GB43 || GB38 || Popliteus ||
 * Liver || Wood || LV8 || LV2 || Pectoralis major sternal, Rhomboids ||
 * Liver || Wood || LV8 || LV2 || Pectoralis major sternal, Rhomboids ||

Psychostructural Pericardium Psychostructural Triple Warmer Psychostructural Gallbladder Psychostructural Liver Psychostructural Kidney Psychostructural Bladder

Child-mother || Control acupoint grandparent-grandchild || Element acupoint of the son meridian || Element acupoint of the grandparent ||
 * **Strategy for tonification or sedation based on Applied Kinesiology meridian therapy** ||
 * |||| Within the same meridian |||| Acupoints from related meridians ||
 * Tonification || Tonification acupoint = //Sheng// cycle || Support Grandchild-grandparent || Element acupoint of the generating meridian || Element acupoint of the grandchild meridian ||
 * Sedation || Sedation acupoint
 * Sedation || Sedation acupoint