Prompt 7: Manual Muscle Testing: Helpful or Hurtful?

The controversy discussed in this post questions and describes both the benefits and drawbacks of manual muscle testing and whether or not it is actually helpful towards the individual. 


Manual Muscle Testing: 


"Manual muscle testing is a procedure for the evaluation of the function and strength of individual muscles and muscle groups based on the effective performance of a movement in relation to the forces of gravity and manual resistance" ("Principles of Manual Muscle Testing"). This form of testing is meant to assess the muscles and their functioning ability. The pictures above show different testing done to different muscles to test their strength. 


Uses: 


"Manual Muscle Testing was developed to evaluate muscle functions for diagnostic, treatment, and insurance purposes.  It is based in part on the self-evident fact that structural and nutritional deficits result in impaired muscle functioning, which can be assessed by physically assessing the strength of muscles" (Gallo). Many therapists, chiropractors, and other professionals use this testing to assess how muscles are strained by psychological issues, such as emotions and stress. This form of the manual muscle testing tests the energy to the muscle and not the actual muscle itself. This approach looks at the neurological side, including reflexes and some organ systems. It also can test the nervous system and how well it's functioning. One of it's uses is to find the specific point in the body that is affected by psychological stress. "When manual muscle testing is used to derive the specific acupoints to stimulate during treatment, this is often referred to as causal diagnosis" (Gallo). The testing provides useful information when attempting to address a psychological issue. 


Abuses:


Some of the issues that come about with this form of testing involves the inappropriate use and overuse. "It is not always necessary to use manual muscle testing to determine what is therapeutically beneficial" (Gallo). For example, sometimes manual muscle testing would be used instead of a way that could allow a patient to self-treat and would force them to see a therapist to see the progress made with the testing. "A misguided muscle tester might convince a client that he/she knows better than the client and insist on the absolute accuracy of a conclusion drawn from an inaccurate test.  This might confuse the client in his/her ability to focus" (Gallo). The manual muscle test should be used cautiously and as an indicator, seeing that it is not 100% accurate or reliable. It also shouldn't be used if what is attempted to be evaluated can't be completely supported. "In professional applied kinesiology, manual muscle testing is one measure taken into account in the process of developing an effective treatment approach" (Gallo). 


Source(s):


Gallo, Fred. "Uses and Abuses of Manual Muscle Testing." Energy Psychology. Energy                     Psychology, n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
"Principles of Manual Muscle Testing." Online Learning Center. McGraw-Hill Global
            Education Holdings, LLC., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.



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Stacie Kussro

Forgetful No More (Part 2)

After reading an article and writing a blog post about memory degenerative diseases last week I decided to continue my research on the topic. I found another article that discusses a drug that can help with the agitation of alzheimer's patients. The drug, Nuedexta, combines a cough suppressant and a heart medication.

The article discusses the periods of agitation that alzheimer's patients go through. These agitations range from restlessness and pacing to aggressiveness such as yelling, fighting and destructiveness. Previously antipsychotics were prescribed to help calm the agitations but there were many problems that arose from these drugs. Antipsychotics have been proven to speed mental declination, which is why the drug Nuedexta, was a better alternative. Although the drug was proving a decline in agitation, studies showed that patients who were taking the drug had suffered from falls or urinary tract infections.

 I found this article highly informative and very interesting because it was very strange to me that a drug that combined a cough suppressant and a heart medication would help calm agitation that arose from memory degenerating diseases. It is very cool that medicine is always changing and developing and you have endless possibilities and cures because you never know what combination of medications may work to cure certain ailments.

Norton, Amy. "Drug May Calm Agitation in Alzheimer's Patients." Medicine Net. N.p., 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=190766>.

Rachel Grzanka

Kinesi-what???

Since I've come to school in August, I think I've told people what my major is almost 5 times a day. Half of those times they say, "what's that?" My only answer to save time and to not sound like a total nerd is, "it's kind of like athletic training!" Now that I have an outlet to share what Kinesiology really is, I hope everyone soon will know what this major does.

In result of an injury, whether it be emotional or physical, the whole body is affected. Kinesiology studies ways to relieve the stress from any given injury through rehabilitation. Kinesiology offers many different therapies for rehab such as reflexology, accupuncture, nutritional support, and even aromatherapy. Kinesiologists stress that a patients nutrition and diet are being monitored closely at all times, because diet plays a huge role in the healing process. Many of us who study Kinesiology continue on in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even physicians assistants.

A huge part of Kinesiology is something called mechanical corrections. Kinesiologists use a process called muscle testing which measures how the nervous system controls its muscle functions. With over 200 bones and hundreds of muscles in the body, they all must be working together properly in order to maintain a healthy body.

If injury occurs your best bet is to find a well known Kinesiologist or physical therapist, they know what they're doing!

-Larissa Laeder

Source:
"What Is Kinesiology Used For?" Kinesiology Connection. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015. <http://www.kinesiology.com.au/what-is-kinesiology-used-for>.

Forgetful No More

I read this article about a new drug that reduces memory loss in dementia and alzheimer patients. The drug, named aducanumab, works by targeting beta-amyloid protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimers. In a study to test the drug, scientests found that the drug not only reduced memory loss after developing the disease by the estimated 20%-30% but by almost 70%.

This article was interesting and easy to relate to because I have a grandfather who suffers from dementia. I see how the disease affects his memory and how it affects his level of interaction and communication with my family and I. I feel that memory degenerating diseases are not focused on as much as they should be.

Diseases such as Alzheimers affect not only the patient but all people associated with the patient. Finding a cure or an antidote to slow the symptoms of this disease would be very beneficial to the patient and the quality of their life.


Herzog, Norbert, and David Niesel. "Excitement About a New Alzheimers Drug." Medical Discovery News. Ed. Pamela Bond. N.p., 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://www.medicaldiscoverynews.com/shows/461-alzheimers.html>.

Rachel Grzanka

What can I do with my major?

As a freshman in college, knowing what I want to do with my major has been a struggle. I know what direction I want to head in, but I feel I need to continue to search what I can actually do with my major. I constantly ask myself what options I have available and what of these options actually interest me.

What exactly is kinesiology?

By definition, kinesiology is "the science dealing with the interrelationship of the physiological processes and anatomy of the human body with respect to movement" (Dictionary.com). Broken down, kinesiology is the study of the movement of the body and kinetic energy. I find myself often intrigued by the movement of the body with respect to the muscles involved in each step we as humans take.

What career options are available?

Kinesiology is often thought of as physical therapy or researched exercise, but as I began researching choices of careers, I realized there's so many more opportunities than just that. Athletic training, coaching, health promotion, and so much more are available in this field. I also learned that one can minor in another field of interest and can combine the two and go down a completely different path than therapy or training. For example, a student majored in kinesiology and minored in digital graphics and ended up making video games. Kinesiology can lead students in many paths that interest them.

What have I been considering?

I don't know the exact steps it would take to get me to my goal, but I am interested in working with running shoes and the dynamics of design. I have also been interested in working with therapy with athletes. I love the drive and commitment they have to their sport and how much they are willing to improve and recover after injuries. Both options are different, but involve the same relative idea; kinesiology.


Stacie Kussro

Prompt 8: My hands on experience with a fetal pig..

Science has always been a favorite of mine, which is why I decided to go into the medical field in college! Right before I graduated high school, I had an experience with dissecting a fetal pig. Sounds gross I know, but it was truly an awesome experience! This differed immensely from just watching a video on it, or reading about it because it was hands on. I got to do it with my own hands, and learn while I was dissecting. Fetal pigs are used in dissection because their organs are very similar to those of human anatomy. Being able to experience this for myself is the main reason I decided to continue on with this field. We used instruments I've never seen or heard of before, which made me want to discover what else is used. If anyone is interested in the medical field, I believe it is vital to do something like this so they can really have a feel for what their getting themselves into! It was eye opening to see how organs really look like because I was used to just seeing pictures. I've never seen human organs but the organs from the pig seemed very similar. I'm so glad I participated in this, and I'm excited to say the next step will be a human cadaver...

Larissa Laeder