JCD Divya Anilkumar Singh et al 10.5005/jp-journals-10031-1099 REVIEW ARTICLE Applied Kinesiology: An Unexplored Path in Dentistry 1Divya Anilkumar Singh, 2Sabita M Ram, 3Naisargi Shah, 4Jyoti Nadgere ABSTRACT function of an organ, which might then weaken a muscle, There are many forms of alternative medicines for treatment or create a hypertonic muscle, thereby precipitating a of any type of ailment, applied kinesiology being one of them. structural or postural imbalance. The mental side of the It is a scientific technique in which claims to diagnose illness triad is equally important in applied kinesiology. For or choose treatment by testing muscles for strength and weak- ness. A widespread use of applied kinesiology in dentistry example, it is a common occurence that chronic negative has resulted in a complete reevaluation and understanding of emotional states of mind can deplete the body’s vitality, patient’s overall health and well-being. Concepts of structural lower its resistance, making way for illness to strike. integration, selection of materials for restoration, adjunctive Dr Goodheart2 identified ‘five factors’ into which therapies, equipments used for joint vibration analysis, have been described in this article. Review of literature has shown therapeutic techniques could be divided which in turn positive response by many dentists for this natural type of could affect muscle strength. These are the nervous medicine. This article presents a review in which applied kinesio- system, the cerebrospinal fluid system, the lymphatic logy and its uses in dentistry are reviewed and analyzed. system, the vascular system, and the acupuncture Keywords: Applied kinesiology, Manual muscle testing, TENS. meridian system. How to cite this article: Singh DA, Ram SM, Shah N, Nadgere J. The International College of Applied Kinesiology Applied Kinesiology: An Unexplored Path in Dentistry. J Contemp Dent 2015;5(1):22-26. was established in 1974 where therapeutic treatments are based on the original studies of Kendall3 and Goodheart.2 Source of support: Nil The organization has members from multidisciplinary Conflict of interest: None medicine including medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers.4 INTRODUCTION Modification of the otorm system in diagnosing and REVIEW RESULTS treating as well as understanding the causes of musculo- Applied kinesiology has its roots in observations made skeletal dysfunctions is a topic of growing importance in by Goodheart,2 a chiropractic physician, in Detroit, healthcare. It leads to a variety of conservative and non- Michigan. Goodheart’s observations regarding muscle invasive treatments which involve joint manipulations or balance, muscle strength and muscle weakness conflicted mobilizations, myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, with the earlier theory that muscle spasm was the primary meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition and cause of pain. According to Goodheart, weakness of any dietary management, and various reflex techniques.1 Muscle reflex test phenomenon is one of the most muscle causes the contralateral, antagonistic or opposing common tests used to practice applied kinesiolgy. This muscles to contract, thereby causing pain. When a muscle is commonly referred to as manual muscle testing. The contracts without the normal antagonistic response, it is basic conceptual model of health in applied kinesiology is an equilateral triangle known as the triad of health (Fig. 1). The three sides denote structure, chemical and mental elements of a human body which could affect muscle strength, thereby affecting human health. The three aspects controlling human health are interrelated, for example, a chemical imbalance could affect the proper 1-4Department of Prosthodontics, MGM Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: Divya Anilkumar Singh, Department of Prosthodontics, MGM Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Phone: 09619706323, e-mail: [email protected] Fig. 1: Triad of health 22 JCD Applied Kinesiology: An Unexplored Path in Dentistry the weak or inhibited muscle that needs to be facilitated, DISCUSSION thereby restoring muscle balance and relieving secon dary Applied kinesiology offers dentistry strong reasons for muscle spasm.2 the practice of this medical specialty as it is able to show In 1930s, Goodheart supported the theory by Frank substantial effects on the total health owing to minute Chapman which related discrete, tender, nodules in changes within the oral cavity. In clinical dentistry, specific areas of the body to a specific diagnosis. Stimu- energy testing using muscle testing techniques along lation of Chapman’s lymphatic reflexes was accompanied with kinesiological testing can be a valuable aid to diag- by a strengthening response in a specifically identified noses, and a way to discover how dentistry affects other weak muscle, as determined by manual muscle testing.3,4 areas of the body or the whole body in general. Goodheart introduced chinese medicine in applied Stomatognathic system and the rest of the body exists kinesiology and published an article in which the use of as integral components of our neuromuscular system and digital pressure was advocated on acupuncture points. can never function without the influence of agonists and Adequate stimulation was observed as measured by antagonists. The use of applied kinesiology helps to diag- manual muscle testing, hence eliminating the need for nose a disruptive influence present within the stomato- acupuncture needles, simplifying the applied kinesiology g nathic system. It can also be used in combination with techniques for healing. other clinical skills to correct the source of dysfunction.6 In a clinical study Goodheart and Fletcher5 in support Any malocclusion is always associated with altered of the triad of health theory demonstrated that chemical element from the triad of health played an important cervical neuromuscular function and postural mecha- role in depicting health of an individual. Fletcher nics. This results in a tendency for neck problems, such observed that neural pathways from the mouth to the brain as cervical subluxation or fixation. A cervical fixation impacted muscle activity. Schmitt and Leisman6 in 1998 arising as a result of stress or injury may alter the occ- also showed a high degree of correlation between applied lusion, and can even lead to undue stresses on mastica- kinesiology procedures used to identify food allergies tory system. Cranial-sacral system, which involves the and serum levels of immunoglobulins for those foods. meningeal membranes as a functional link between the Blood drawn showed that patients had antibodies to the physiologic micromotion of the bones of the cranium and foods which were found to be allergenic through applied pelvis is affected by this closed kinematic system of the 10 kinesiology assessment. body. The term, Lovett Brother is used to describe the In support of this adjunctive method for treatment, compensatory response to displacement or rotation of a 7 Cuthbert and Goodheart in 2007 reviewed more than component of the skeletal chain. 100 studies related to manual muscle testing and the Use of applied kinesiology can be done in various applied kinesiology chiropractic technique that employs fields of dentistry. The advances made previously in the same. There was evidence for good reliability and orthodontics and oralfacial orthopedics can be related validity in the use for patients with neuromusculo- to dental somatic integration. The need to integrate the skeletal dysfunction. Good validity was demonstrated by function of the mouth with the rest of the body has led obser vational cohort studies, and randomized controlled to a third generation of orthodontic appliances that treat trials.7 the distortions of the mouth. These appliances are called Chambers et al, in 2009 observed that exercise per- light-wire functionals which are fitted to the dental arches formance was improved with mouth rinsing by carbo- and apply a continuous gentle force to the teeth and the 11 hydrate rather than saccharine, supporting the specificity bones of the face and skull. of oral receptors, in this instance distinguishing carbo- Applied kinesiology can be used for detection hydrates from sweetness.8 Observing the change in and treatment of cavitations. Dr GV Black, the father muscle function after a patient ingests a nutritional of modern dentistry, described cavitation also called entity is a frequently used method of nutritional testing in NICO lesions process in 1915.12 Cavitations are formed applied kinesiology. by progressive disease process in the jawbone, which Melzack and Wall suggested a neurologic explanation destroys the bone cells and produces a large cavitation of the phenomena of ‘therapy localization’.9 According area. They are seen in the third molar extraction region to this explanation through the nerve fibers associated and can produce trigeminal pain, headaches and facial with touch, the body’s answer is registered by a change pain.12 in muscle strength, as identified by the manual muscle Applied kinesiology recommends the use non vaso cons- testing response. tricting anesthetics to prevent cavitations, as vasocons- Journal of Contemporary Dentistry, January-April 2015;5(1):22-26 23 Divya Anilkumar Singh et al trictors result in constriction of blood vessels resulting logical testing evaluated the energetic state of the body in reduced