APPLIED KINESIOLOGY: A NEW DRIVE FOR TOTAL HEALTH

By Matthew E. Mantell

“Many people respond to their health problems as if their cars were giving them trouble,” says Dr. Jonathan Newman,* an Applied Kinesiologist. As the radar detector attached to the sun visor beeps, Newman stops talking, scans both sides of the road and gently applies the brakes. “just as these people accept driving with misaligned wheels and engine ping, they are resigned to living with throbbing headaches and nagging back pain,” continues Newman bringing the vehicle back up to speed. “Usually, neither the people nor their cars are in serious difficulty. Rather, they’re experiencing minor dysfunction that prevents them from performing at peak efficiency.”

  After pulling into his office parking lot, Newman gets out of the car and rubs his lower back. Even a doctor manifests stress when he sees patients ten hours a day, five days a week. Newman’s face becomes masked in a grimace while bending down to pick up the morning newspaper. “Not many folks have to accept anything less than optimal well being,” he says, “Most everyone has the potential for recovery which, according to Applied Kinesiology, is part of man’s natural heritage.”

  Certainly this is an optimistic prognosis, but is there any evidence to support it?

  Exhibit A is Newman himself. In 1974, while attending college he was hospitalized with undiagnosed ailments. Among the symptoms were weight loss, anemia, and exhaustion. The attending physicians could not determine the source of the illness, and began prescribing medication which merely masked the symptoms. “When the doctors saw that pills were merely a palliative, they suggested I have surgery,” recalls Newman. “At this point I contacted Dr. Goodheart.”

  Dr. George Goodheart is the founder of Applied Kinesiology (AK). By accident, Newman had attended one of his lectures. Desperate and apparently running out of options, he traveled to Detroit to see Goodheart, The Applied Kinesiologist administered tests similar to those performed in the hospital, but came up with definitive diagnosis and an effective treatment.” During the three days I spent with Goodheart, he listened carefully to what I had to say and then carefully forgot it,” said Newman, laughing at the paradox. “I saw him periodically for the next three years, and eventually my health was completely restored.” This experience prompted Newman to also study AK and, in 1977, after receiving his degree to practice, utilized the discipline.

  The first patient on Newman’s Friday morning calendar is Linda, a 46-year old secretary, who is also experiencing back problems. Linda’s pain, however, is so severe that it is dramatically interfering with her job and home life. Prior to seeing Newman, she sought relief from an orthopedist, a chiropractor, and, finally, a neurologist. “When none of these doctors could find the cause of my back spasms, a friend of min suggested I see an Applied Kinesiologist,” she says. “Having tried almost everything else, I felt there was almost nothing to lose.” A forty-five minute examination reveals that the tightness in Linda’s jaw muscles is indirectly forcing her spine out of line. The remainder of the session is spent balancing the muscles in her face, and when Linda leaves the office she is free of back pain,

  “Please make an appointment to see me in two weeks,” Newman tells the woman, “just to make sure your body is healing properly.”

  Before seeing another patient, Newman retreats to his office and quickly pours himself a cup of coffee. He stands looking over some notes and gently massages the right side of his back. “John’s here,” says the receptionist peeking through the door. Newman sighs, drains the cup, and strides off to the treatment room.

   “How are you doing today?” Newman asks.

   “Not bad, all things considered,” replies John, starting at the floor.

   After three bed-ridden months with an undetermined illness, John, 73, agreed to exploratory surgery. The diagnosis was abdominal and lung cancer. Given only a short time to live, John decided to be at home with his family, rather than stay in the hospital. In order to make John’s remaining days more comfortable, his son urged him to visit an Applied Kinesiologist. “For the last four and a half months I have been living a relatively normal existence, but recently I’ve had to take some mild pain killers,” says John.

  Because John is experiencing difficulty digesting food, Newman concentrates on stimulating his intestinal reflexes. These reflex points are similar to those which are the targets for the needles of an acupuncturist. The therapy, in conjunction with appropriate enzymes and a change in diet, will enable the patient to receive proper nourishment.” John knows there is nothing that can be done to prevent his death,” asserts Newman. “Still, up until the end, we can insure that he is treated with dignity and respect.”

   Upon ushering John to the door, Newman returns to his office sanctuary. The few moments spent gazing out the window is interrupted by the insistent ringing of his telephone,

  “Hi Mark,” says Newman. “How’s your training going?”

  For the past four years, Mark Allen has been ranked as one of the world’s stop triathletes. He is just one of the many sports luminaries who hires Newman as a training consultant. Among the others Newman has worked with are eight time New York City marathon winner, Grete Waitz, New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver, Team Porsche race car driver Chip Robinson, and running guru Dr, George Sheehan.

   The ten minute conversation between Allen and Newman is punctuated with fitness “buzz words” aerobic and anaerobic. Glancing at his watch, Newman says, “Mark, I’ve got to go. There’s another patient waiting for me. Give me a call next week and let me know if you feel we should modify your cycling program.”

   With the patient’s folder in hand, Newman races down the hall and greets David in the treatment room. For three years prior to seeing Newman, the 38-year old executive had gone to a general practitioner for annual physical check-ups. Despite complaining for allergies, heart burn and fatigue, the doctor told David he was in “excellent condition.” Frustrated by the discrepancy between what he was told and how he Felt, David decided to see an Applied Kinesiologist.

   “AK recognizes that David, like most people, lives between the boundaries of good health and serious illness,” states Newman. “While traditional medicine sometimes ignores ‘gray area sickness,’ this zone can dramatically affect an individual’s day to day existence. Unfortunately, too many people are concerned with the quantity of their life - how long they will live – rather than the quality – how healthy and happy they feel at a given moment.”

   As of late, David feels neither healthy nor happy as a consequence of the stress generated by his executive responsibilities. To reduce the tensions between nine and five, doctor and patient devise a strategy to make the hours nourishing rather than depleting. Moreover, Newman suggests David cut back on coffee, eat a “real breakfast,” as well as eliminate the aggressive attitude toward his daily exercise regime.

   While David, John and Linda may appear to have been treated differently, their therapies actually have striking similarities. Instead of focusing on a specific symptom – low back pain, stomach disorder, and stress - Newman attempts to treat an individual from a wholistic perspective, In each instance, he utilized AK’s triadic precepts of balancing and harmonizing the structure, chemical, and psychology of the patient.

   Newman applies these precepts to himself during an hour that begins with a “brown bag” lunch. Sitting at his desk, he eats a cold pasta salad and several slices of whole wheat bread. Once the meal is finished, he goes out to the parking lot and begins walking backward in a slow, deliberate pace. This seemingly odd procedure, which lasts for ten minutes, is a way of untorquing a back gripped by tension. Upon returning to a normal gait, Newman heads back into the office. The next quarter hour is spent editing an article for the International College of Applied Kinesiology, the health care system’s governing body. When the intercom buzzer rings, Newman doesn’t answer it. Placing the papers on the desk, he treads a familiar path leading to the treatment room door on the right.

   Seated in a chair is Pat, 28, a housewife. It is her first visit to an Applied Kinesiologist. For the next 20 minute she recites a litany of complaints among which are chronic fatigue, craving for sweets, and being overweight. As with many other patients who see Newman, Pat has been to other doctors who cannot find anything wrong with her. “One benefit from your trips to these practitioners is they have demonstrated that you don’t have any life threatening diseases,” he says. “In all probability, you possess the ingredients for good health, and by working together we can get them to function properly.”

   “I’ m so tired of being fat and not having any energy, I’m ready to do almost anything you tell me,” says Pat. “But before we begin, I have a question for you.”

   “What is that?”

   “Someone told me that all Applied Kinesiologists are chiropractors. Is that true?”

   “Actually, that is not the case,” says Newman.” While many doctors practicing AK are chiropractors, you would be surprised how many dentists, podiatrists, M.D.s, and psychiatrists apply the principles of this discipline when treating their patients.”

   As with all new patients, Newman begins the session by taking Pat’s blood pressure. He does this three times. First, when she is lying down, then sitting up and, finally, after she is on her feet. Pat asks why so much time is devoted to this cursory procedure, and Newman explains that this is only one example of Applied Kinesiology’s thoroughness. To make sure there are no subtle chemical imbalances, she receives a urinalysis. After Pat returns the cup, Newman does a blood work-up.  Then, she is asked to walk around the room, enabling Newman to observe her gait and posture.

   The preliminary observation is brought to a conclusion with AK’s most important tool: muscle testing. “Muscles are a very important part of the body’s language,” Newman tells Pat. “They tend to signal difficulties about which you are frequently unaware.” Pat’s tests reveal a weakness in the left arm, which is sometimes associated with a thyroid problem.

   “This could be contributing to your chronic fatigue,” says Newman. “Before making a definitive assessment, I want you to monitor your dietary habits for a week.”

   “Does this include snacks?” asks Pat.

   Newman answers yes.

   “Also, your overall health will benefit if you begin a thirty minute daily walking program.”

   “When should I see you again?”

   “In a month,” replied Newman.

   Having seen this week’s last patient, Newman grabs an overnight bag and leaves the office. In the parking lot he again walks backwards, hoping to undo the painful spasm. Once the exercise is finished, Newman enters his car and begins a three and one half hour drive into the country. Besides providing some much needed rest and relaxation, the trip has a more specific purpose. On the following morning, Newman has an appointment to have his back treated by an Applied Kinesiologist.

*Not his real name.