At Heal Thyself Institute, we use Applied Kinesiology (AK) as a way to listen to the body’s innate intelligence. This gentle, hands-on assessment helps identify areas of imbalance in the nervous system, muscles, and organs. By testing how muscles respond to light resistance, we gain insight into how different systems of the body are communicating, or where that communication may be disrupted.
Applied Kinesiology is not a treatment itself, but a powerful diagnostic and therapeutic guide that helps us choose the most effective combination of chiropractic, neurological, or functional medicine approaches for each patient.
During muscle testing, gentle pressure is applied to specific muscles while the brain’s response is observed. Changes in strength, timing, or coordination can reveal underlying stress patterns, nutrient deficiencies, or neurological imbalances.
This method allows Dr. Waldo to detect subtle issues before they appear on scans or lab work, helping create a care plan that’s both targeted and individualized.
Applied Kinesiology is one of the core tools we use to bridge structure, chemistry, and emotion; the three pillars of functional health.
By combining AK with chiropractic adjustments, neurological exercises, and functional medicine insights, we’re able to treat the whole person, not just a single symptom.
Each test helps refine your individualized care plan, ensuring the body’s feedback guides every decision we make together.
Applied Kinesiology is a specific diagnostic system developed by chiropractors that uses muscle testing as part of a broader clinical framework. It looks not only at strength, but at how the nervous system and different body systems communicate through muscle response.
No. AK is gentle and safe for all ages — including children and sensitive patients. The light resistance used is simply a way to observe how your brain and muscles respond under slight challenge.
AK combines chiropractic, neurology, and physiology principles. While it’s considered an adjunctive technique rather than a standalone science, its value lies in helping practitioners connect observations about movement, nervous system tone, and stress responses to guide more individualized care.
Dr. Waldo uses AK testing alongside other methods like SOT, visual and vestibular assessments, and functional medicine testing. It helps refine your care plan and determine which therapies will best support your healing and nervous system regulation.
