Applied Kinesiology;

an indispensable tool in Holistic Dentistry

    In the early 1980's I was introduced to the work of Dr. George Goodheart, the father of the clinical science of Applied Kinesiology. Applied Kinesiology has not been well understood by many in the dental profession, and as a result has had a relatively small following amongst dentists. If the truth were known every dentist who aspired to excellence would become an ardent student  of Applied Kinesiology.
    Kinesiology is the study of the body's movement and the mechanisms by which it occurs. Applied Kinesiology is essentially the practice of applying this knowledge to optimize body function.  When the function of the body improves, by definition so does the health of the person.
    The method of basic muscle testing originated with the work of Kendall and Kendall, physical therapists interesting in defining a method for assessing the functional competency of individual muscles. Their published work demonstrated a method for isolation of all the major muscles of the body, to test their strength as an aid to physical assessment and rehabilitation.   
    George Goodheart had studied their work and was using it in his chiropractic care for evaluating the source of patient complaints. It was a chance observation he made while treating a patient that set him on the path that led to the development of Applied Kinesiology.

   How it is done:
    Applied kinesiology is practiced by making use of the muscle reflex test phenomenon. In this test the ability of a muscle to maintain the position of a limb[ for example the arm] is evaluated by applying a gradually increasing controlled force to the end of the limb. For instance we might test the strength of the shoulder muscle {the deltoid} by having the patient extend their arm out parallel to the floor, and applying a graduated controlled force of a few pounds to their arm in the wrist area. If the muscle we are testing is functioning normally it will be able to resist our force and keep the arm stable. If at the same time we test a strong muscle, we also touch {therapy localizing} a reflex point {may be acupuncture or functional reflex point} on the patient's body, we may find our previously strong muscle testing weak. This would indicate a functional disturbance in that aspect of the patient. Correction of the disturbance may be achieved in numerous ways depending on the nature of the problem.
If the problem we are identifying were a disturbance in the function of a muscle for example, we might 1st apply one of the principles Goodheart identified. He found that there were five principle factors that might disturb the function of a muscle.
           These are;  interference of nerve flow, interference of blood flow, interference of lymphatic drainage, deficient nutrition, and altered acupuncture energy flow. These would be addressed by applying methods of Cranial-Sacral & Myofascial release therapy, massage of reflex points, nutritional therapy, or acupuncture.  

How we make use of it in Dentistry:
Structural Integration
Bite Stress
Diagnosis and treatment of Cavitations
Diagnosis of Fractured Teeth
Diagnosis of Infections
Diagnosis of Dental-Somatic Acupuncture Reflex: Differentiating Cause and Effect
Materials Compatibility Testing
Nutritional Testing: Contact Reflex Analysis

Structural Integration: the Use of Kinesiology in Dental Somatic Integration
    Applied Kinesiology can teach us much about the relationships that exist between the stomatognathic system and the rest of the body. When we dissect the muscles of the body they appear separate. In fact they exist as integral components of our neuromuscular system. They never function without the influence of agonists and antagonists. The whole of the neuromuscular system is in constant interplay. As a consequence dysfunction of a masticatory muscle has the potential to disrupt the function of muscles quite removed anatomically. This has been nicely demonstrated by electromyographic studies that have shown increased tension within lower back muscles when an occlusal interference is introduced to the molars. It is also borne out by a study of acupuncture energetics from a neuromuscular point of view. Further evidence is seen daily by myself and practitioner’s who are prepared by training and experience.
    Given the incidence of malocclusion, one could say there was rampant dysfunction of varying degrees of magnitude within a majority of the population. The alignment of the craniomandibular structures at rest and their articulation [occlusion] during function has profound impact on the functioning of the body as a whole. The use of Applied Kinesiology permits us to disclose when a disruptive influence is present within the stomatognathic system. AK can be used to localize the problem and define it. It can also be used in combination with our other clinical skills to correct the source of dysfunction.

Case Studies:
Case #1: 
   L.G.  presented for dental treatment, requiring a crown to be placed on her upper right 2^nd molar to restore it. The tooth had previously been treated with root canal therapy, at which time it had been shortened to take biting pressure off of it.
    About a month after we had placed a provisional acrylic crown , L.G.   called me to report that she had an amazing experience. The heel of her right foot had been giving her a burning intermittent pain for two years. As soon as we placed this temporary crown on this tooth the pain disappeared. In fact it stayed away for four weeks only to return that morning after the temporary came loose from her tooth.
    Using Applied Kinesiology I evaluated the causal chain between her foot pain and her tooth. It seems that the absence of support for the bite on this tooth was permitting a slight torquing of the mandible when she closed her mouth. This in turn was interfering with the micro motion of the bilateral maxillary bones and at the same time inducing a torsion of the spheno-basilar junction. It was fascinating to see the meridian energetic/ myofascial influences generated by this dental-cranial stress. Both the Bladder meridian and Triple warmer reacted kinesiologically throughout their entire course, as if the energy transmitted along them were blocked.  This was determined by muscle testing as I traced the path of these meridians from her hand to the side of her head, and from the forehead, down her back and leg past the heel of her foot and to the side of her small toe. In other words, without her temporary crown in place her strong shoulder muscle {deltoid} went weak as I traced my free hand along the course of the muscular chain comprising the meridians.
    As soon as I replaced the temporary crown and re- evaluated the cranial and meridian indicators they where completely non- reactive. L.G.’s foot pain is gone, relieved by restoring a tooth.

Case#2:
   D.B-G. In Jan of 1998 her chief complaint was right groin and foot pain of some months duration. Her discomfort had been aggravated by chiropractic treatment{ which is often very helpful for similar conditions}, and she was awakening in the morning with foot pain and tension in her leg. She consulted me regarding the potential benefits of Dental Somatic Integration. When her bite was examined it was seen that she had a retruded mandible{ Class II Div 2} with a missing upper left first molar and the second molar had drifted forward. She had a prominent click of her left temporomandibular joint.  Use of Applied Kinesiology in our examination revealed that this situation with her bite was causing the jamming of the bones of her palate and the base of her skull, as well as affecting the integrated function of the muscular chain running from her head, to her neck, back, and pelvis.
    I advised her of the need for orthodontic/ orthopedic correction of her jaw. She was initially reluctant to proceed, but agreed to wear a lower appliance to reposition her lower jaw. We fitted the appliance to bring her jaw forward providing support to the unstable joint that was clicking on the left side, as well as improving the balance of her skull , and providing better muscular support. Upon repeating the evaluation with Applied Kinesiology I saw that the weakness evident in the pelvis had disappeared.   
    She returned two weeks after the appliance was fitted reporting complete elimination of the groin pain and 80% reduction in her foot pain. Use of the kinesiologic muscle response test showed that there were still areas energetically blocked at the ankle and middle of her foot. An acupuncture needle was used at GB14 to open the energy flow to these constricted areas. The patient has said she now wants comprehensive treatment

Bite Stress:
    It is common in dentistry for us to be faced with a situation where an individual presents with discomfort in the mouth when there is no apparent evidence of a disease process. Over the years I have had numerous experiences of patients presenting with toothache due to circumstances arising elsewhere in their system.
    To illustrate let me share a few examples. A couple I can remember occurred as a delayed effect of the patient having injured their toes within a week or so before the tooth ache started. It was only after performing a thorough dental examination and finding no apparent cause of their toothache that I employed Applied kinesiology to evaluate the teeth.
    By touching the patient's aching tooth as I performed the muscle test we were able to see that their was some stress acting on the tooth. Holding the tooth between my fingers I would gently pull on the tooth stretching the ligament that was suspending the tooth in it's socket. After feeling the release of the ligament the Muscle test would be repeated. Now the tooth would test strong {meaning the muscle I was testing did not weaken}. I would then have the patient bite down for a moment, and then muscle test the tooth again. Now the tooth tested weak again. It became clear that the pressure of the bite was causing stress on the tooth. Applying principles of cranial osteopathy and myofascial release {Cranial Sacral Therapy} to the head and associated structures, I would release strain patterns that had accumulated in the patient's body following the injury to their toe. Upon then repeating the muscle test of the tooth after the strain patterns were cleared in their body, evidence of stress on the ligament of the tooth had cleared.