Introduction to Muscle Testing, the Gaits,

and Repeated Muscle Tests

Robert Frost, PhD, A.T.

WHY LEARN ABOUT MERIDIANS AND MUSCLE TESTING?

Muscle testing is a standard diagnostic technique of school medicine. Doctors test muscles to
diagnose the function of muscles and the nervous system that is controlling them.

According to Traditional Chinese medicine, health depends upon a free flow of energy through
all of your Yin and Yang meridians - the energy pathways upon which the acupuncture points
are located. Applied Kinesiology research has revealed that specific muscles are associated
with specific meridians from the Chinese system. Thus, learning to test muscles allows you to
assess the function of both the muscles and of the meridian system. This can give you a
readout of the energy state of your physical body, your emotions, your mind and your spirit.
Correcting the imbalances detected by muscle testing can vastly improve your physical and
mental health and functioning.

These trainings will give you the ability to assess the effect of anything upon you or your clients.
Nutritional counselors will learn to assess which specific nutrients each individual requires for
optimal health. Psychologists will learn to swiftly determine what is stressing their clients. Sports
therapists will learn to swiftly and safely get their athletes back into the game. Mothers will be
able to choose effective remedies for the health issues of their children. Whatever your field of
therapy, learning muscle testing as taught in these courses will significantly increase your ability
to help those in your care. And the specific uses of gemstones and woods for balancing
energies as taught here will give you and your work unique attractiveness.

MUSCLE TESTING AS BIOFEEDBACK

What is a muscle test? The muscle test is just an experiment. You try to hold your arm up while I
press on it. If it stays up (tests strong), that’s considered good, in balance. If you can not hold
your arm up against my increasing test pressure, the muscle is said to have tested weak. That’s
considered bad, out of balance.

Now add some stimulus and use the muscle test as biofeedback. Have the subject put some
food or remedy into his mouth, chew and taste it but not swallow it. Now retest the muscle. If it
tested weak but now tests strong, the food or remedy has a positive effect. It the muscle tested
strong but now tests weak, the subject’s energy is disturbed by the remedy. The whole picture is
more complicated than this simplistic explanation, but for the beginner, this is a good start.

Do not use the word “allergy” to describe a muscle test weakening effect because that term is
reserved for medical diagnostics. Unless you have the proper license, be careful to neither

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diagnose nor treat. You may however “assess the energy state” and “rebalance the energy”.
Energy balancing may have the desirable side-effect that the subject’s presenting symptom or
illness goes away. But to stay out of trouble, be sure to make it clear that you are neither
diagnosing nor treating an illness.

When a muscle tests weak, the response of your nervous system is rather like, “Huh, what’s
going on? What am I supposed to do?” The body language indicates that for this muscle, you
are just not with it, out of focus, out to lunch, not fully in the here and now. In technical terms,
your fine sensory awareness and motor control of that particular muscle are not functioning
optimally.

When a muscle tests strong, you can utilize it to respond with excellent timing and coordination.
When all your muscles are turned on so they test strong and are in a balanced state, you are
able to be fully present and respond precisely to what is going on. You become far more aware
and can respond in a timely and efficient manner. Not only your physical coordination but also
your mental abilities get an excellent tune up. In a very real and practical sense, through testing
and turning on all your muscle circuits, you can fully be here now, ready to respond accurately.

THE GAITS
After we learn to test a few muscles and calibrate the muscle test response, we will learn to test
the gaits – the movements the arms and legs make while walking. Learning to balance the gaits,
here with a specific gemstone, will give you the ability to greatly increase coordination and
thereby improve the quality of life for you clients. Imagine when your work with the gaits causes
the “bookworm” boy to discover that he has great coordination and sports ability, too! Balancing
the gaits can make a significant improvement in the quality of life.

REPEATED MUSCLE TESTING - ENDURANCE

Finally in this short course, we will learn to test for and use a specific type of wood to improve
your endurance. This will help anyone to easily climb stairs, and help the marathon runner to not
run out of energy before the end of the race.

THE KINESIOLOGY MUSCLE TEST

How do you get someone to allow you to test their muscles? Before you can test someone, you
need to explain to them what muscle testing is, what they have to do, and get their permission.
If the subject has never been tested, he may be skeptical. To the inexperienced subject, muscle
testing may seem like far-fetched unscientific nonsense.

Your first challenge is to help the subject to get over this hurdle of disbelief and suspicion. To do
so, begin to introduce the topic by saying something like this: “Muscle testing is not some weird
alternative healing technique. Muscle testing is a widely accepted standard diagnostic technique
taught in medical school. What I do with muscle testing goes beyond what doctors do, but has
the same basis. Providing this kind of introduction at the start will help the skeptical subject to
accept the possible validity of muscle testing.

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Then, ask permission to test. Say something like, “I’d like to test some muscles now. I’ll push or
pull on your arms and legs in various directions to see if your muscles are responding correctly.
If not, I’ll perform some corrections so they do. This will improve your coordination and assist
you to be fully present and alert. Would you like that? To perform such corrections, I’ll have to
touch and massage various spots to awaken muscles that test weak. Is there any place that you
are injured or any area that I shouldn’t touch for any reason?”

After obtaining permission, demonstrate and describe the range and motion of the movement
you will use to correctly test the selected muscle. Each muscle has its own requirements for
testing. Guide the subject into the correct position for receiving the test. Explain any fixation
requirements such as keeping the elbow completely extended or holding on to the table. The
range of every muscle test describes the arc of the actual movement of the body parts, not a
straight line. Ask the subject to not provide resistance while you demonstrate the range and
direction of the test in precisely this anatomical arc.

Use a large area of your open palm to make contact when you muscle test. Some examiners
test muscles by pushing with one finger. This is not a good idea. Pressing with one finger will
cause discomfort. And the body language conveys, the message “I don’t really want to touch
you, but I have to for this test. So I’m touching you with the smallest contact possible.” This kind
of body language (testing with one finger) breaks rapport, generates distrust and thus will not
yield good results.

Touching an area where the subject has an injury or other dysfunction can yield false results.
Many subjects have disturbances in the bones of the ankle or wrist. Touching them may make
an otherwise normotonic strong testing muscle test weak. For this reason, make contact
proximal to the wrist or ankle and avoid touching other areas that may have problems. Do not
grasp around the limb. If you do, the subject will not know which way you are going to push or
pull. Grasping around the arm can cause the subject to tighten muscles that are not involved in
the test. It is best to make contact with a flat portion of your palm to clearly indicate the direction
you are going to push.

Doctors use a strong pressure to test the actual strength of the muscle. Here in this introduction
to muscle testing, we will learn the more gentle kinesiology muscle test. This uses gradually
increasing pressure to check the ability of the nervous system of the subject to sense how much
pressure is being applied, how fast it is being applied, and to respond to it with precisely the
same counterpressure.

To perform the kinesiology muscle test, the subject stabilizes a body part while the examiner
pushes or pulls on it. Let’s use an arm for our example. The subject doesn’t move the arm
during the test but rather only stabilizes against the test pressure. The examiner gives a verbal
signal like “hold”, waits about ½ second, and then slowly increases the pressure applied for
about two seconds. The pressure should be very slight at the start, giving the subject time to

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feel it and respond with counter-pressure. Say something like, “Your job is to stabilize your arm
in this position while I apply a slowly increasing force against it. Don’t push my arm up or allow
your arm to go down. Just keep it steady right here. Ready? Hold.”

Wait about ½ second and then slowly increase your test pressure for two seconds. Start out
with only a tiny amount of pressure and then accelerate your increase of pressure during the
second second. If the arm moves two inches during the two-second test, the muscle tested
weak.

FORCE APPLIED DURING A MUSCLE TEST

When you press your foot down on the accelerator, the car doesn’t suddenly jump to high
speed. At first it starts out very slowly and then increases the rate at which it speeds up. The
pressure the examiner applies during a muscle test should similarly start out slowly and gently.
Both the amount of pressure and the rate at which it is applied continually increase during the
test.

When performing the kinesiology muscle test, the pressure you apply should be very slight
during the first second and then swiftly increase during the second second. For the science

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geeks, this rate at which the pressure (or in our auto example, the speed) increases is a
quadratic function. Graphed as above, it generates a logarithmic curve.

How much pressure to apply during the muscle test depends upon the strength of the subject
and the relative strength of the muscle tested. For small and functionally less powerful muscles
such a teres minor and supraspinatus, use less pressure. For huge and powerful muscles like
rectus femoris, you may build up the test pressure to 20 pounds or more.

However, it is typical for powerful muscles like rectus femoris to only show their weakness
during the first second of very gentle pressure. Typically, when testing a big leg muscle like
rectus femoris, the knee begins to sink before the subject is aware that the test pressure has
begun. Then during the second second, as the examiner’s test pressure increases, the big
muscle wakes up and contracts powerfully. For this reason, take your time and increase your
test pressure very slowly during the first second or so, sensing carefully for any give – any
sinking of the limb.

TO LEARN HOW TO APPLY PRESSURE WHEN TESTING A MUSCLE, PRACTICE WITH A

SCALE.
Place a bathroom scale flat on a table. Put your hand upon it. Make good contact with the scale,
but don’t press upon it yet. If the scale already shows weight, lighten up! You want contact
without pressure. This is how you should start your muscle test. You don’t want to be already
pressing weight on your subject before you start the test. Make weightless contact before
beginning to test muscles. Apply contact but without pressure.

When you are ready to muscle test, say, “Hold”. Wait ½ second and then begin to press very
lightly. During the first second, you should only build up your pressure to about 1 pound. Then
during the second second, accelerate your increase of pressure so it reaches about 5-10
pounds of pressure. Most of the increase of pressure occurs during the second second of the
two-second muscle test.

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Your pressure upon the scale should begin gently and then swiftly increase in one smooth
movement. If you see the scale needle bouncing up and down, you are pressing like a sewing
machine. Don’t. Press one time with gradually increasing pressure. You should see the scale
indicator needle moving smoothly from zero to your maximal pressure without any bouncing.

The scale can give you good feedback about how you are pressing during a muscle test. Use it
and learn from it.

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TESTING THE LATISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE

Latissimus dorsi is a good choice for a demonstration because it tests weak more often than
most any other muscle. This makes it a good first muscle for the beginner. Testing it gives the
subject the experience of how a weak testing muscle responds and feels. And it gives the
examiner the feel for how much pressure he has to apply when muscle testing.

You don’t have to learn the Latin names of muscles to muscle test. But a little knowledge will
help you understand how they are named. The “lat” in latissimus dorsi refers to lateral which
means “to the side”. “Issimus” is the Latin superlative and means “the most”. “Dorsi”, as in the
dorsal fin on a fish’s back, means “back”. So, latissimus dorsi is the side-most back muscle –
the big one under the armpit.

Latissimus dorsi is the muscle that produces most of the power for chin ups and rowing motions
that pull the arms in toward the sides of the body. However, we can’t test in with the arm bent
like it would be in rowing movements because too many other muscles such as biceps would
help. We test latissimus dorsi with the arm fully straightened and pulled in to the side to best
isolate it from its synergists, the muscles that often contract when it does.

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 Hyperextended Elbow

Most men can’t fully straighten their elbows. Many women can hyperextend their elbows. This
means that they can extend their elbows beyond straight. Because of this structural difference,
anthropologists can look at the bones of an elbow and tell if it is from a man or a woman. For
this reason, to correctly test latissimus dorsi, women must extend their arms not just to 180° but
beyond straight as far as they are able until the elbow joint is locked.

To test latissimus dorsi, stand to the left side of your subject. Stabilize the subject with your left
hand on top of the subject’s left shoulder. Say, “Let you arm hang. Straighten your arm
completely and rotate your open palm toward the back. Don’t resist as I show you the range of
motion of this test. I’ll pull your arm out to the side.

“Lock your arm straight and don’t allow your elbow to bend at all during the test. Imagine you
are clamping a newspaper between your biceps and your chest. If you are straightening your
arm completely, your wrist probably won’t touch your hip. I’ll pull your straightened arm away
from your side. Without bending your elbow at all, do your best to clamp your arm in towards
your side and not allow me to pull it away at all. Alright? Now hold.”

Slowly increase your pulling pressure up to about ten pounds.

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 Subject cheats and bends the elbow

If the subject unlocks and bends the elbow even a tiny bit, point this out and start again. When
the elbow bends even a tiny bit, the biceps gets involved. The biceps muscle rarely tests weak
so it is typical to use it by bending the elbow to compensate for a weak-testing latissimus dorsi.

Observe how cheating on the test demonstrates the body language of a weak testing muscle.
This is usually not conscious. The subject has learned to use synergist (helper) muscles to take
over the task and assist the one that tests weak. This is a natural compensation. It is your job as
the examiner to educate your subject and then to watch for and correct such errors that arise
during the testing of muscles.

“Now let’s repeat the test. This time, extend your arm as far as possible and lock your elbow
straight during the test. Hold.”

Now that the test was performed correctly, the muscle will likely show its weakness. For must
subjects, far more often than not, latissimus dorsi will test weak. Why is this?

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 Upper Trapezius

The action of the upper trapezius muscle is the opposite of the action of latissimus dorsi. When
upper trapezius contracts on one side only, it pulls the shoulder up and pulls the head to the
side. When both upper trapezius muscles contract, both shoulders rise and the head is pulled
back. Upper trapezius is the main muscle that pulls your head back.

Just under the back of the neck is the brain stem with the medulla oblongata. The medulla
controls heartbeat and respiration. A blow to the medulla can cause death. So, when we are in
danger, the upper trapezius automatically tightens to lift the shoulders and pull the head back.
This protects the back of the neck from injury. This is a good, lifesaving response that we
humans share with animals. In nature, danger usually very swiftly subsides. But humans in
modern society suffer from ongoing stresses that they respond to as if their life is in danger.
Even being late for work and worrying that that boss will be upset can cause the upper trapezius
to tighten and remain tight all day.

Upper trapezius is also typically tight all day long because most everyone carries their head way
out in front of their body. If upper trapezius were to relax, the head would fall down upon the
chests.

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Latissimus dorsi pulls the shoulders down and upper trapezius lifts them up. They are an
agonist-antagonist pair.

When a muscle is an active agonist, its antagonist relaxes. This natural function is called the
principle of facilitation and inhibition. An active muscle facilitates its synergists – the muscles
that work with it, and inhibits its antagonists – the muscles that oppose it. Since upper trapezius
is most always active holding the head from falling further forward, its antagonist, latissimus
dorsi, is continually inhibited. This is a main reason why latissimus dorsi tests weak more often
than most any other muscle. It is turned off by the chronic excess tension in its main antagonist,
the upper trapezius muscles. Note that this unnecessary chronic tension in the upper trapezius
muscles is the main cause of the pain most people feel in the area of their neck and upper
shoulders. It’s not the work we do during the day, but rather the poor posture and use of the
body that cause so much pain.

The principle of facilitation and inhibition states that an active muscle causes its antagonists to
relax. So, when latissimus dorsi is strengthened and its tone thereby elevated, its antagonist
upper trapezius relaxes.

Proper Posture and Use of the Body - Alexander Technique

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Note however that a lasting correction of latissimus dorsi weakness will require an improvement
in posture. The subject needs to learn to orient his head and neck above his spine so upper
trapezius can relax. Unfortunately, this can’t be achieved this by a conscious effort to stand
straight. Trying to stand straight usually only tightens even more muscles to oppose the ones
that are already tight. The correct orientation of the head, neck and spine requires releasing
habitual tensions and directing upward through the spine. This can be learned in lessons with a
good Alexander Technique teacher. Until this is learned and becomes habitual, the excess
tension in the upper trapezius will continue to weaken its main antagonist muscle, latissimus
dorsi.

As mentioned, when latissimus dorsi tests weak, its antagonists, the upper trapezius muscles
pull the shoulder up. Strengthening latissimus dorsi reduces the tension the upper trapezius.
This will very likely result in the raised shoulders moving back down.

Let’s see if this is true. Before strengthening latissimus dorsi, carefully observe the height of the
subject’s two shoulders. Use a mirror and allow the subject to see this, too. Then press into the
big upper trapezius muscle on top of the trunk between the shoulder and the head, feeling for
tight spots. Are there tight areas in that muscle? Does pressing into it hurt? Most people are
very tight in this area and, after a long day of work, hurt there. Ask the subject if they often have
pain there. Have the subject assess how painful it is when you press there. Explain to the
subject that you will check the height of the shoulders and the pain in the upper trapezius
muscle again after latissimus dorsi tests strong.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN A MUSCLE THAT TESTS WEAK

Weak testing muscles can be turned back on with a variety of methods. Some of them only work
temporarily, but until more lasting corrections are learned and applied, the ones you know can
be repeated as needed.

It’s important to contract a muscle right before and after any correction technique is applied.
This can be done through muscle testing or simply by having the subject tighten the muscle.
The sequence of correcting a weak testing muscle may be compared to the structure of a
sandwich. To make a sandwich, you need bread on each side of the filling. Similarly, to
strengthen a weak testing muscle, you need to contract the muscle before and after applying
the correction.

When the muscle tested weak, but hasn’t been tested or otherwise contracted for more than 20
seconds, it is necessary to contract it again right before strengthening it. You can most always
strengthen a muscle, at least temporarily, by rubbing its neurolymphatic (NL) reflex points. To
get your subject to contract the muscle, you could test the muscle again. Or, you can just say,
“Pull your arm in toward your side strongly.” In any case, be sure the subject tightens the muscle
before and after you apply NL massage.

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Now, let’s strengthen latissimus dorsi by massaging its neurolymphatic reflex points. These
points are like a circuit breaker in your home. When the lights go out, you click the circuit
breaker and the lights go back on. When latissimus dorsi tests weak, rubbing its NL points
usually turns it back on.

Neurolymphatic Reflex Points for Latissimus Dorsi

The NL points for latissimus dorsi are located between ribs 7 and 8, only on the left side in the
front and back of the body. The anterior point is located on an imaginary vertical line that passes
through the nipple. The lower edge of the breast and the pectoralis muscle is located between
ribs 5 and 6. The precise position of the anterior neurolymphatic point for latissimus dorsi is in a
notch that you can feel two ribs lower between ribs 7 and 8. It will hurt and may tickle when you
press upon and rub it. If it hurts too much, massage more lightly for a longer time.

The posterior NL point for latissimus dorsi is located between ribs 7 and 8 near where they meet
the spine. The lower tip of the shoulder blade provides us with a landmark. Trace over at this
height to near the spine to find the spot we are seeking. The posterior point will typically be
greater than an inch in diameter. It will feel doughy and swollen. Massage the NL points firmly
with a circular motion. Typically the anterior point will be more sensitive. Remember: If it hurts
too much, massage more gently but for a longer time. Twenty seconds is usually adequate.
Some cases require longer.

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Retest latissimus dorsi. It should now test strong, indicating that you have massaged the NL
points correctly and have strengthened the muscle.

Bravo! Now let’s see what happened to the upper trapezius muscle as a result of strengthening
latissimus dorsi. Press into the upper trapezius muscle again with precisely the same amount of
pressure as you did before. Is it softer? Does it hurt less? Have the shoulders dropped down
and the upper trapezius muscles relaxed? Have the subject notice the difference by looking into
the mirror again. Help the subject to be aware of the reduction of pain in the upper trapezius
muscles and the lower position of the shoulders.

Balancing the main muscles of the body will balance the tone in opposing muscle groups. This
will improve posture and eliminate the pains that poor posture causes. As the carriage becomes
more upright, the subject’s attitude, self-awareness and self-image will change. Others may
comment that the subject looks more confident. The change in posture may also change others’
attitude and responses. The quality of your subject’s whole life may improve both subjectively
and objectively.

Let’s review what you have learned so far. You can now test latissimus dorsi correctly. If it tests
weak, you can strengthen it by massaging its neurolymphatic points. You experienced that
turning on latissimus dorsi reduces tightness and pain in the neck and shoulders. You
experienced that turning on latissimus dorsi improves posture. You now understand the basic
principles of testing a muscle ”in the clear” – without any added stimuli.

I chose this muscle first because it tests weak more often than most any other muscle. This
gave you the experience of the difference between a muscle that tests weak and one that tests
strong. Now you have taken your first steps in mastering the testing of muscles. You’ve learned
to test and correct the function of a muscle.

TESTING RECTUS FEMORIS

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Rectus femoris is the big muscle on the front of the thigh. It attaches to the hip and below the
knee. Since it crosses over two joints (hip and knee), it has two actions: Rectus femoris
straightens the knee and flexes the thigh on the hip. Here we will test its thigh flexion.

Rectus femoris can be tested standing (with support), sitting or lying supine. To test it sitting,
have the subject lift one knee so the foot is slightly off of the floor. The subject may hold on to
the chair for stability. You push the knee back down toward the floor.

Rectus femoris can be easily tested with the subject lying on the back. Test it with the same
protocol you learned for latissimus dorsi. Push or pull on the knee as illustrated above.

For gait testing which comes later in this course, both anterior deltoid and rectus femoris must
initially test strong. If rectus femoris tests weak when you test it, strengthen it by rubbing its
neurolymphatic points. Then test it again to be sure it does test strong.

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 Neurolymphatic Reflex Points for Rectus Femoris

The anterior NL points for rectus femoris lie under the edge of the rib cage. Be gentle
massaging there as this is a very sensitive area. To avoid probing too deeply, use the side of
your hand instead of your fingertips. Avoid massaging in the middle where the xiphoid process
lies at the end of the breastbone. The posterior NLs for rectus femoris are between ribs 8-9,
9-10, 10-11, and 11-12 near to the spine. Rib 12 is the lowest rib so it is easy to locate.

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THE NEUROMUSCULAR SPINDLE CELL
In the thick central "belly" of every muscle between the muscle fibers are nerve cell receptors
called spindle cells. These spindle cells send signals to the nervous system concerning the level
of muscular contraction. When the level of muscular contraction is so high that there is a
danger of tearing muscle fibers or of pulling the tendon partially off of the bone, signals from
the spindle cells result in the nervous system reducing the tension in the muscle to prevent
damage.

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Pinching the spindle cells together with the fingers simulates a state of high contraction in the
muscle. This causes the same signals to be sent to the nervous system as those produced by a
genuine state of extreme tension in the muscle such as a cramp. This phenomenon can be
effectively used to check if a muscle is properly responding so that it may be used as an
indicator muscle. We’ll use spindle cell pinching in the next example.

TESTING THE ANTERIOR DELTOID MUSCLE

Anterior Deltoid Bilateral Anterior Deltoid Test – Standing.

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 Performing the Bilateral Test of the Anterior Deltoid

When using muscle testing for psychological diagnostics, it is very useful to test the indicator
muscle bilaterally. In this application of muscle testing, when a stimulus causes one side to test
weak and the other strong, the stimulus is causing a conflict between the two hemispheres of
the brain. We will explore this phenomena in the advanced muscle testing course.

1. To test anterior deltoid, the subject stands, sits or lies on his back and raises his arms about
30°. If the subject sits, have him sit on the front edge of the chair. When sitting, his knees should
be together so as to not be in the way of the arms. Do not allow the subject to lift the arms
higher than his knees. Move the subject’s arms through the range of motion without resistance
to demonstrate the test. For this demonstration, let’s perform the test supine. In this position, the
table provides good stabilization.
2. The examiner places his hands on the subject’s forearms above the wrists, says “Hold” and
slowly presses the subject’s arms back toward his legs.
3. If the muscle tested strong on both sides, go to number 5.
4. If the muscle tested weak, strengthen it by massaging its neurolymphatic (NL) points,
Anterior and posterior. For anterior deltoid, these are located between ribs 3-4 where they meet
the breastbone and where they meet the spine. If you are not sure about the exact position,
massage between the ribs above and below the correct points as well. In this way, you will
surely massage the corrects points.

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​Neurolymphatic Reflex Points for Anterior Deltoid

Spindle cell pinching Anterior Deltoid

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5. Check that the muscle now tests strong.
6. Pinch the spindle cells in the belly of the anterior deltoid muscle on one side of the body
only. Press deeply into the muscle so you are stimulating the muscle and not only pinching the
skin. Then press your fingers toward one another in a direction parallel to the length of the
muscle which is along the length of the upper arm. For anterior deltoid, grip and press together
with your thumbs as illustrated here.
7. Test anterior deltoid bilaterally as in 2.
8. If the weakened side still tests strong, test it again after you firmly tap the sedation point for
the Lung meridian, Lu 5, on one side of the body only. Bend the elbow slightly and find the
hollow in the elbow crease just lateral to the biceps tendon. That’s the location of the sedation
point for the lung meridian, Lu 5.

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 Tapping the Sedation Point for Anterior Deltoid, Lu 5

9. Test anterior deltoid bilaterally as in 2.

10. The side pinched or tapped should weaken when tested. The other side should remain
strong. If you get these responses, you are finished.

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11. If the weakened side still tests strong, say, “Relax. Be here with me now and be testable.”
Repeat steps 6-7 or 8-9. This means, pinch the spindle cells or tap the sedation point on one
side and test anterior deltoid bilaterally.
12. If the weakened side still tests strong, move both arms into complete contraction of anterior
deltoid (up over the head). Stabilize them there while the subject tries to move toward
extension. Then move the arms into complete extension (down and behind the back). Stabilize
them there while the subject contracts anterior deltoid. If doing this with the subject supine, have
the subject slide to the side of the table and treat the arm on that side. Repeat on the other side.
Repeat steps 6-7: Tap the sedation point and then test anterior deltoid bilaterally. If that doesn’t
weaken the muscle, repeat steps 8-9: Pinch the spindle cells and retest.
13. If the muscle still will not weaken, have the subject lie supine on the floor for testing. If your
table is strong and stable enough, you can stand on the table for this test. Standing over the
subject gives you great mechanical advantage as you can use your body weight when testing.
Strongly pinch the spindle cells of anterior deltoid on one side and then test both sides. Make
sure you have “independent suspension” of each of your arms. Don’t press with both elbows
locked. In this position, you will be able to overpower even a strong subject. See if you can elicit
a weak response from the weakened side.
When you do, guide your subject to look at the arm and feel the weakening. Then train your
subject to respond to a more gentle touch. You can do that by saying something like, “Watch
your arm while I test it. When you see or feel the arm starting to sink, just allow it to fall without
trying to stop it.” Then say, “Let’s see if you can feel and respond to the weakening with less
pressure.” Repeat this until it you can elicit the muscle weakening with a small amount of
pressure. This process will help your subject to be easier for you to test.
14. If the muscle weakens on the side treated, anterior deltoid is in a normotonic (ideal) state
and may, after further calibration, be used as an indicator muscle for other tests.

A muscle that tests strong and can be weakened by either spindle cell pinching or sedation
point tapping is said to be in a normotonic state. Now that your potential indicator muscle tests
strong and can be weakened, it’s time to calibrate it for the most accurate results when using it
as an indicator muscle.

CALIBRATING THE MUSCLE TEST

You’ve learned to test a muscle “in the clear” – with no stimulus added. Before we can use
muscle testing as an indicator for the effect of stimuli, we need to perform some calibration.
Calibrating the way a muscle responds to testing may be compared to setting a scale on a flat
surface and adjusting it to zero. Like a scale, the muscle test will not give accurate readings until
it is calibrated. The calibration required for accurate muscle testing of stimuli requires a few new
techniques and skills. Although you may use any muscle as an indicator muscle, anterior deltoid
is a good choice.

TEST FOR DEHYDRATION

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When your subject is dehydrated, some muscle test techniques either won’t work or will give
inaccurate responses. To test for dehydration:
1. Tug on a lock of the subject’s hair a few times firmly
2. Release the hair and test an indicator muscle. Be sure you let go of the hair before
testing.
3. If the indicator muscle weakens, have the subject drink a glass of water.
4. Repeat 1 and 2. Tug on the hair. Let go and muscle test. The indicator muscle should
now remain strong.
5. You can eliminate this step by just having the subject drink a glass of water before
continuing. That is a good idea for you, too!

TESTING THE CENTRAL AND GOVERNING MERIDIANS

For these tests, it is not necessary to touch the body of the subject at all. For propriety, it may
be best indicated to not touch the body for these two tests. However, stroke slowly and keep
your hand within about three inches from the subject. Also be sure to keep your hand pointing
toward the lip while testing the upstroke. Allowing the hand to fall before testing can
unintentionally test the downward stroke.

1. Without touching the body, use your hand to scan along the central meridian upward from the
pubic bone to the lower lip. Keep pointing toward the point below the middle of the lower lip

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while the indicator muscle is tested. It should test strong. Stroke downward along the same line.
This should test weak. Stroke up and test (strong) again to finish.

2. Stroke the governing meridian from the middle of the upper lip, up over the top of the head
and down the back. As far as you can comfortably reach will usually be adequate. This should
test weak. Stroke in the reverse direction – up the spine, up over the head and down to the point
above the upper lip. This should test strong.

3. If the results of either of these​ ​tests is the reverse of what is expected, perform this correction:
Stand to the side of your subject. Stroke both meridians simultaneously from the tail bone and
the pubic bone up to the end points on both lips. Stroke back down. Repeat this process several
times, finishing at the middle of both lips. I recommend finishing by touching the end points
above and below the center of the lips.

4. Repeat the tests in 1 and 2 above. They should now test strong when stroked upward and
weak when stroked downward.

Locating and correcting reversals of the central or governing meridians will eliminate various
errors in subsequent testing. Those familiar with more advanced techniques may perform a
whole balancing session on the issue of central or governing meridian reversal.

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FINGER POLARITY
Many kinesiology tests require that the examiner touch a specific point on the subject’s body
before testing. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of finger polarity, make the following
experiment. Locate a normotonic indicator muscle such as anterior deltoid that is easy to touch
while testing. Place the tip of the index finger of your left hand into the belly of the muscle. Keep
it there and retest the muscle. It will generally test weak. Repeat this test, touching the belly of
the muscle with the tip of the middle finger of the left hand. The indicator muscle will remain
strong.

Fingertip, Hand and Muscle Polarity

Why does this occur? The belly of a muscle in contraction has a negative charge while its origin
and insertion have a positive charge. Placing a negatively charged fingertip upon the belly of the
muscle brings like charges (which repel) together. This is registered as enough of a stress factor
that it will usually weaken the muscle. Note: This is a useful alternate way to determine if a
muscle is normotonic, meaning that it tests strong but can be weakened.

After experiencing the effect of finger polarity upon muscle strength, it will be easy to
understand the logical importance of using two adjacent fingers to create a neutral charge when
testing the effect of touching a point upon the body as is done in the kinesiology techniques of

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therapy localization. You may also use all of the fingertips as a neutral test “probe” when
touching large areas.

If you are using touch (therapy localization, TL) to precisely locate a reflex point or other small
area, use one finger on top of another for a smaller “test probe”. To locate the precise position
of an active acupuncture point, use a metal probe with a rounded tip. When you touch the exact
spot of an active acupuncture point with your metal probe, an indicator muscle will test weak or
in some cases hypertonic (strong but cannot be weakened).

As you see, touching with the differing polarity of individual fingers can change the results of
muscle testing. For this reason, when you are not testing individual fingertip polarity, be sure to
touch using two neighboring fingers to create a neutral test probe.

DETECTING THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF SWITCHING

Neurologic disorganization, popularly called switching, indicates a reversal of the polarity of the
body. This can occur between the left and the right, above and below, and to the front and
behind. With left-right switching, a problem that muscle testing says is on the right side of the
body may be on the left side. Until switching is detected and corrected, the results of some
muscle tests will be reversed and appear to give the wrong answer. For this reason, the
following tests and a quick-fix correction for switching are included in our calibration pre-tests.

1​. ​Test anterior deltoid on one side only. It should test strong.
2. Touch the sedation point for anterior deltoid on the same side you are testing. Use one hand
to touch Lu 5 while you use the other hand to muscle test. It should test weak. This gives you
the feel of how the weak indicator muscle feels. Use the same amount of pressure for testing
the three switching points.

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 K 27 CV 24 GV 27

3. Touch the end of both Kidney meridians (K27) located in the notch under the joint of where
the clavicle meets the breastbone. Ideally, the subject should touch her own points. Usually, you
can touch the points and get the same results. Use neutral touch by placing the thumb on one
K27 and two adjacent fingertips on the other. Test the indicator muscle. This tests the
dimension right-left. These may be tested individually to determine if the right or the left side is
causing the imbalance.
4. Neutrally touch the end of the central “vessel” meridian, located under the middle of the lower
lip. Test the indicator muscle while continuing to touch the CV 24. This tests the dimension
up-down.
5. Neutrally touch the end of the governing “vessel” meridian located above the middle of the
upper lip. Test the indicator muscle while continuing to touch GV 27. This tests the dimension
front-back. GV 1, the beginning point of the governing meridian located at the coccyx, can also
be used for this test.

K27 CV24 GV27

In short:
1. TL K 27. Use neutral touch with thumb on one point and two fingers on the other. Test
an indicator muscle. This tests the dimension right-left.
2. TL CV 24. Test an indicator muscle. This tests the dimension up-down.
3. TL GV 27. Test an indicator muscle, This tests the dimension back-front.

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 4. Points that weakened the indicator muscle indicate switching in those dimensions.

Correction of Switching - the Quick Fix

1. Hold one hand over the navel.
2. Massage the points that tested weak. Breathe deeply and do eye rotations, too.
3. Reverse the hands and repeat.

Confirm the correction

1. Touch the switching points that tested weak before and muscle test.
2. If the indicator muscle remains strong, switching has been eliminated

Take the time and perform these tests before attempting to use a muscle test as an indicator of
any stimulus. Otherwise, you’ll get false answers, at least some of the time. In this work, nothing
beats a clean accurate muscle test. If you get confusing or seemingly impossible results later in
your testing, return and check these switching points again.

ONE-POINT POLARITY BALANCE

This is not a calibration technique. It is used mainly for pain relief. This is an excellent technique
to use when a child has a small injury. The child can use the tested finger polarity to reduce his
own pain.
1) Subject uses neutral polarity – TL with two adjacent fingers touching an injury or other
disturbed area of the body.
2) Examiner tests an indicator muscle.
3) If the indicator muscle tests weak, a disturbance in the suspect area is confirmed.
4) Subject uses one single finger TL. Examiner tests the indicator muscle.
5) Subject uses the next finger TL. Examiner tests the indicator muscle.
6) If one finger tests weak and the next one tests strong, one point polarity balancing can
help.
7) Subject holds the strong testing polarity upon the area until relief is obtained.

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THE GAITS

Jackson Browne Demonstrating Alternate Arm and Leg Gait Motion

Gaits are patterns of locomotion involving the simultaneous motion of the arms and legs. In
walking or running, various groups of muscles alternately contract and relax. As the left leg
moves forward, the right arm swings forward. At the same time, the right leg moves back and
the left arm swings back.

The gaits are more easily seen in animals that walk on four legs. The horse has four distinct
gaits. As a horse increases his speed, each of the gaits comes into play sequentially. The timing
and rhythm of the four legs changes so as to be most coordinated at the particular speed of
motion. The four horse gaits are walk, trot, canter and gallop. They can be observed in action
here: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKU_kVQhd4

Gaits require very complex coordination. Both halves of the brain must send different signals to
each half of the body at the same time. Gait coordination requires a good integration of the
function of both halves of the brain. When the gaits test weak, the two halves of the brain are
not functioning in an integrated manner. This can also cause mental difficulties.

In humans, only the anterior gait is easily visible. In the normal gait pattern, when a human
takes a step forward, the opposite arm swings forward at the same time. The double muscle test
of arm and opposite leg tests this gait coordination.

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 Testing the Anterior Gaits

To test the anterior gaits, the subject lies on the back and lifts one arm and the opposite leg up
about 30°. The examiner attempts to press them both back down.

First test the anterior gait as shown here. Then, if either the arm or the leg tests weak, test that
limb alone. Put the other arm or leg, the one that tested strong, back down on the table and test
just the arm or the leg that weakened in the anterior gait test. If the individual arm or leg tests
weak, it must be strengthened before again performing the gait test.

If the arm tests weak when tested alone strengthen it by rubbing the neurolymphatic points for
anterior deltoid.

Neurolymphatic Points for Anterior Deltoid

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If the arm tests weak, the anterior deltoid needs to be strengthened. To do so, firmly massage
the neurolymphatic points for anterior deltoid for about twenty seconds. The points are located
between ribs 3 and 4 on both sides of the body. Rub a few higher and lower if you’re not sure
which space between the ribs this is. Afterwards, retest the arm to confirm the correction.

Neurolymphatic Points for Rectus Femoris

If the leg tests weak, Rectus Femoris muscles need to be strengthened. To do so, firmly
massage the neurolymphatic points for Rectus Femoris. Then retest the individual leg to see
that it tests strong.

When the individual arm and leg each test strong, test the opposite arm and leg at the same
time again. If either the arm or the leg tests weak when both are tested simultaneously, the
anterior gait is out and needs balancing.

When the Gaits test weak, touching the gemstone Fluorite will make them test strong.

Fluorite

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Fluorite comes in most every color. And any color of fluorite will eliminate the gait imbalance.
This refutes a commonly held belief about gemstones: The effect of gemstones depends upon
their color. Many books on gemstone healing list the effect of gemstones according to their
color. Typically, they state, “Red stones give vitality and sexual drive. Blue stones bring
relaxation…” This is an example of the effect of colors, not of the energy of gemstones. This is
color therapy. Gemstones do have color and this has its own effect. But this is not the only
energetic effect of gemstones.

Beryl Crystals

Beryls of all colors will block the effect of fluorite. These include aquamarine (blue), emerald
(green), heliodor (yellow), morganite (pink or peach), bixbite (red), goshenite (clear) and all
other colors of beryl. So don’t wear your aquamarine or other beryl ring when carrying fluorite to
strengthen your gaits!

Many more useful applications of gemstones are in the Gemstone courses.

In Applied Kinesiology, the anterior gait is corrected by massaging liver meridian point 2.

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Sometimes, although you can see gait problems as a lack of coordination when the subject
walks, the gaits test strong. Many muscles only test weak when the subject stands or after the
subject walks. When you see gait problems, but the gaits test strong supine, test the gaits while
the subject is standing. For balance when testing the gaits standing, have the subject lean back
against a wall. In many cases, the gaits only show their weakness when the subject is in a
weight bearing position.

My student, Cheryl Rennels, trains horses in Livermore, Colorado. One horse was unable to
cantor. At the speed where cantor comes into play, the horse stumbled and either slowed down
to a trot or speeded up to a gallop. When Cheryl put a fluorite under the saddle blanket, the
horse could immediately cantor. When she removed the gem, the horse lost this ability again.
Hey, if this works with horses, it’s probably not a placebo effect! This fascinating topic, gems
and woods that balance muscles, is discussed in greater detail in my courses on gemstones
and woods.

Muscle testing is not required for correction of the gaits. The anterior gait can be corrected by
making contralateral movements (cross-crawl) with arms and legs to the front before and after
massage of the anterior gait correction point Lv 2.

Correcting the gaits improves brain function and the capacity to make chosen changes.
Correction of the gaits helps the two halves of the brain to function together simultaneously.
Seen in this way, gait corrections are a kind of brain integration. Correcting the gaits improves
walking and running coordination. Correcting the gaits can also improve mental functioning.

Correcting the anterior gait can have an important psychological function as well. The anterior
gait is used whenever you step forward from where you are toward where you choose to be.
When the anterior gait tests weak, the subject will be less able to step out from where he is and
move forward toward his desired goal. This is an example of one of my personal additions as a
psychologist to the field of Applied Kinesiology: the typical psychological effects of particular
muscle imbalances. When the anterior gait tests weak, the subject is less able to make life
changes. When the anterior gaits are functioning correctly, it is far easier to leave an existing
situation and move towards chosen goals. Balancing the gaits enables subjects to more easily
make creative changes that they have desired in their lives. They are more able to overcome
inertia and all the reasons “why not” that have been holding them back from fulfillment and
success in their endeavors. With the gaits turned on, it is easier to actually do what they choose
in a well-coordinated manner.

Case history: A 45 year old extremely dyslexic patient had both mental difficulties and physical
discoordination. He wore special trousers because he often wet his pants uncontrollably. His
wife made fun of him and his personal image was "am Arsch" (German for "on the butt" – really
down). When he lifted an arm, all leg muscles on both sides tested weak. When he lifted a leg,
all arm muscles tested weak on both sides. He always wanted to learn to swim, but the
simultaneous coordination of arms and legs to kick and stroke was beyond his capacity.

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With concentration, he was able to learn to do various contralateral gait (cross-crawl)
movements to the front, to the sides, to the back and crossing over movements. He went to the
swimming pool, did his cross-crawl movements, rubbed the reflex points on his feet and again
did cross-crawls (self-correcting his gaits). He then got in the water and learned to swim in one
hour. He returned with a huge smile and a look of great pride in his eyes (like a child who says,
"Mommy, look what I can do!") and told me of his success. “The best part”, he said, “was that I
fixed the problem with my own hands". It had been many years since he had felt so good about
himself and his abilities.

In my dance courses, the instructor would often teach us a dance step from the right to the left
side of the stage. Then she would ask us to repeat it going back from the left to the right. About
80% of the time, my brain went “tilt!” I could only do it correctly about 20% of the time. When I
carried a fluorite with me, I succeeded on the first try about 80% of the time. If you are trying to
learn something new that requires good coordination, carrying a fluorite can be of great
assistance.

Correctly the gaits can be very important for children. A child whose gaits are out will not be well
coordinated. As a result, he will not be good at sports. When other kids see him moving
awkwardly or throwing a ball inaccurately, they may make fun of him and call him unkind names.
In such cases, the child often decides to concentrate upon his studies and to not pursue sports.
This can inhibit him from enjoying physical activities for his whole life. Correcting the gaits can
assist the child to run smoothly, be good at sports, and enjoy his body as well as his mind.

Identifying and correcting gait imbalances can greatly improve the quality of your life.

REPEATED MUSCLE FAILURE

Sometimes, a muscle tests strong once or twice, but if further tested, it dramatically weakens.
This condition is called repeated muscle failure. The main Applied Kinesiology correction for
repeated muscle failure is prolonged (two minutes or more) massage of the neurolymphatic
points for the affected muscle(s). This is not always convenient or even possible during, for
example, an athletic event.

The runner who runs out of energy before the end of his event, someone who has difficulty
climbing stairs, or anyone who wants greater endurance will find great help through correcting
repetitive muscle failure.

Any muscle can have repeated muscle failure. For our example, let’s use one of the biggest and
strongest muscles of the body – rectus femoris.

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If rectus femoris tests weak the first time, strengthen it first with brief neurolymphatic point
massage.

After rectus femoris tests strong, test it several times in a row with no time to rest between tests.
If it tests strong a few times but then tests weak, repeated muscle failure is confirmed.

Instead of massaging the NLs for two minutes, hold a piece of the wood, black walnut. Then
again perform the repeated muscle testing of rectus femoris. Presto! No repeated muscle test
failure. I can’t say for certain that black walnut “corrects” anything, but when you carry it, you
don’t have repeated muscle failure.

I have often observed subjects who say, “I can’t climb stairs anymore. After step or two, I just
poop out.” When I give them a piece of black walnut to hold, they are amazed that they are
immediately able to climb the stairs easily.

Marathon runners who carry black walnut have reported greater endurance and fewer “side
aches”.

Six weeks after breaking her leg, a subject was unable to lift that leg up off of the table at all –
even after all my attempts at strengthening her muscles. I recalled that black walnut helped
people climb stairs which involves lifting the leg. I tossed a piece of black walnut up on the table
beside her while I searched through my “bag of tricks” for anything else that might help. I turned
back and saw her holding the black walnut while raising her leg straight up! This example is

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most convincing as I wasn’t involved in testing her muscle at all. You can see the piece of black
walnut in her right hand.

Black Walnut Gives Pat the Ability to Lift Her Leg

This and many other fascinating and useful applications of woods are in the wood courses I
teach.

Now you know how to test three muscles, the gaits and repeated muscle test failure. You can
calibrate a muscle test so it gives accurate readings as an indicator muscle. Come back and
learn more in further trainings. Information about these further trainings plus fluorite and black
walnut pendants are available from ​http://learnappliedkinesiology.com​.

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