In the 1920s an orthopaedic surgeon, R.W. Lovett, developed a system for testing and grading the strength of muscles. His work was taken forward by Henry and Florence Kendall in 1949 and they produced a book entitled ‘Muscle Testing and Function’.  Kinesiology, as we use it today, was developed by George Goodheart in 1964. He was an American chiropractor who realised that by using a specific technique of massaging the beginning and ending of a patient’s muscle, he could increase the strength of the muscle. He called this the origin and insertion correction and named this new therapy Applied Kinesiology because he was applying information gathered by studying the muscle response (kinesiology means `study of movement`). George Goodheart became famous for being able to solve health problems that no one else could and he taught these techniques to chiropractors, osteopaths, medical doctors and dentists. He went on to found the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) and only practitioners who have trained with ICAK use the term ‘Applied Kinesiologist’.Using accurate muscle testing, George Goodheart and other ICAK members identified where imbalances in the body were occurring and could introduce various factors to find the most relevant types of treatment to help restore balance for that person. This meant every treatment could be tailored to each individual’s need. Working with Chinese medical theory they discovered links between muscle response, meridian energy and related organs. They linked these with Chapman’s neurolymphatic massage points and Bennet’s neurovascular holding points. Further research identified nutrients which would support rebalancing of the various systems and foods which could affect these circuits in a negative way. Emotional associations which contributed or resulted in imbalance and structural distortions were also identified and corrected.Since its original inception in the 1960’s various branches of kinesiology have been developed, based on the core concepts of Kinesiology formed by George Goodheart and some have developed their own unique aspects of Kinesiology and related techniques. The aim of all branches of Kinesiology is to work holistically with clients to address their imbalances and rebalance their system in order to work towards optimal health and well-being.

Systematic Kinesiology in the UK

The Kinesiology Association (KA), originally known as the Association of Systematic Kinesiology (ASK), was established in 1988. In August 2019, we rebranded to better reflect our mission. Systematic Kinesiology has its roots in the USA, where it began as a method called Touch for Health—designed to make kinesiology accessible to everyone.Touch for Health was brought to the UK and evolved into what we now know as Systematic Kinesiology. This approach is safe, easy to learn, and empowers individuals to use muscle testing techniques to help themselves, as well as support the health of family, friends, and clients. By using muscle testing, Systematic Kinesiology identifies imbalances in the body across various areas—structural, biochemical, emotional, and energetic—and works towards restoring overall balance and achieving health goals and improving energy levels to addressing chronic pain and supporting overall wellness.