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