The Applied Kinesiology of NUHS.edu 2012

here, I detail the bunk diagnostic known as applied kinesiology [AK] at National University of Health Sciences [NUHS]:

001. at NUHS, we're told:

001.a. in "Clubs and Organizations" [vsc 2012-01-16]:

"professional development and networking practice your skills with [...the] Applied Kinesiology Club [...] to contact a club or for more information, call the Office of Student Services at 630-889-6541 or email studentservices@nuhs.edu";

001.b. "Bulletin 2011-2012" [vsc 2012-01-16]:

"activities and organizations [...] Applied Kinesiology Club [...] Elective Course Descriptions [...] EL1100 Applied Kinesiology: A Survey Course Credits 1.0 This survey course focuses on the procedures used in the practice of, and its relationship to health care outcomes of Applied Kinesiology (AK). Students will also explore the literature involved in AK in order to broaden their understanding of the issues in the field. Students will be exposed to the history of AK and to the description of mechanics of neurology. This material will be presented in discussion and lecture. Prerequisite: None";

Note: and in that school catalog, the root "scien" occurs 691 times!

001.c. in "About Us - Our Faculty" [vsc 2012-01-16]:

"Terese Black, DC [...] is certified in acupuncture and applied kinesiology";

002. the National Applied Kinesiology Club web page states [their Facebook page is here]:

002.a. in "National Applied Kinesiology Club: What is AK?" [vsc 2012-01-16]:

"applied kinesiology (AK) is a form of diagnosis using muscle testing as a primary feedback mechanism to examine how a person's body is functioning. When properly applied, the outcome of an AK diagnosis will determine the best form of therapy for the patient [...] AK draws together the core elements of many complementary therapies [...like] joint manipulation or mobilization [...] myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management and various reflex procedures [...] the determination of your need for dietary supplements requires knowledge of your symptoms along with an examination for known physical signs of imbalances and a dietary history. Blood, urine, saliva or stool analyses may be added [...] it takes hundreds of hours of study and years of practice to perfect the multitude of diagnostic techniques that have been developed in AK [...] applied kinesiology is only taught to persons licensed to diagnose in the health care field [...] the International College of Applied Kinesiology and the courses offered by the College are only open to those individuals who are health care practitioners, licensed to diagnose, or students enrolled in an accredited college program who, upon completion, will be granted a license to diagnose";

Note: diagnose, diagnose, diagnose.

002.b. in "National Applied Kinesiology Club: Applied Kinesiology Fundamentals Course" [vsc 2012-01-16]:

"this practical series is designed to introduce students and practicing physicians to applied kinesiology principles with hands-on workshops.  No previous AK knowledge is required [...] the advanced diagnostic system of applied kinesiology fundamentals can be used to evaluate the efficacy of any and all healing systems [...] Allan Zatkin, DC, DIBAK: Dr. Zatkin has been in practice for over 23 years and teaching AK since 1987.  Dr. Zatkin has been in practice with the founder and developer of applied kinesiology, Dr. George Goodheart, since 1985.  His step-by-step approach makes the basic AK fundamentals easily understood and applicable [...] location: National University of Health Sciences 200 East Roosevelt Rd, Lombard IL 60148¨ Janse Hall Room 139(630)889-6702 [...] registration [cost...] 1st time student $135 [...] repeat student $85";

Note: diagnostic again, and not a cheap club to be a part of.

003. some scientific skeptical analysis:

003.a. the Wikipedia article "Applied Kinesiology" [2012-01-16] states:

"nearly all AK tests are subjective, relying solely on practitioner assessment of muscle response [...] some studies have shown test-retest reliability, inter-tester reliability, and accuracy to have no better than chance correlations [...] skeptics have also dismissed AK as 'quackery,' 'magical thinking,' and a misinterpretation of the ideomotor effect. It has also been criticized on theoretical and empirical grounds, and characterized as pseudoscience [...] a review of peer-reviewed studies concluded that the 'evidence to date does not support the use of [AK] for the diagnosis of organic disease or pre/subclinical conditions'";

Note: oh snap.  Diagnostically, AK is bunk, apparently.  I do not participate in any Wikipedia editing, by the way, not even the entry on naturopathy.

003.b. Quackwatch states in "Applied Kinesiology: Phony Muscle-Testing for 'Allergies'and 'Nutrient Deficiencies'":

"applied kinesiology (AK) is the term most commonly used to identify a pseudoscientific system of muscle-testing and therapy [...] the concepts of applied kinesiology do not conform to scientific facts about the causes or treatment of disease";

Note: and there you go.  NUHS claims science subset AK, in my opinion.  And quite hugely AK is regarded as bunk, preponderantly. The Skeptic's Dictionary has a nice entry on the ideomotor effect and an entry on AK.