Applied Kinesiology (AK): Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing combined with other standard methods of diagnosis. AK, a non-invasive system of evaluating body function that is unique in the healing arts, has become a dynamic movement in health care in its relatively short existence.
The combined terms “applied” and “kinesiology” describe the basis of this system, which is the use of manual muscle testing to evaluate body function through the dynamics of the musculoskeletal system. The practitioner tests for whether the muscle is neurologically sound or effected by a stressor, which turns it "off." Manual muscle testing is similar to in-vivo testing of conventional medicine where a patient is prescribed a trial of treatments, which the medical doctor monitors with blood tests. AK's non-invasive system of evaluation of the patient's physiology is instant and each treatment can therefore be modified immediately based on the patient's reaction to the treatment.
Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counseling skills, evaluating environmental irritants and various reflex procedures.
The triad of health lists the three basic causes of health problems. They are structural, chemical, and mental, with structure as the base of the triad. Literally, all health problems, whether functional or pathological, are involved with one part or all parts of the triad. This is not new to chiropractic, as its founder, D.D. Palmer states in his text, “The Science, Art, and Philosophy of Chiropractic,” “The determining causes of disease are traumatism, poison and autosuggestion.” AK enables the doctor to evaluate the triad's functional balance and direct therapy toward the imbalanced side or sides. The physician who is aware of the triad of health, and evaluates every patient for all three sides, increases his ability to find the basic underlying cause of a patient’s health problem.
AK skills are developed and approved by the International College of Applied Kinesiology Board of Standards. Dr. Hwang holds certification in the comprehensive basic 130 hours training course from Dr. Timothy Francis, DC, MS, DIBAK.
Diversified, Drop, Activator, and SOT Blocking Techniques: These are the corrective techniques utilized when the need for correction is found through the diagnostic AK system. Corrections using these techniques are used full-spine including extremities. Diversified technique is the what most chiropractic patients interface with in the community. It is also the most commonly taught manual adjustive technique at chiropractic colleges. Dr. Hwang uses mostly this technique to adjust the spine. Drop technique is commonly used in areas of stubborn fixations (regions of subluxations) and for those patients who prefer to not hear the cavitations ("pops" or "cracks" heard during manual adjustments). Activator technique is a gentle technique used on regions of low tolerance to manual adjustments or areas of stubborn subluxations that need a little more motion after manual adjustment. Most patients tolerate well to the adjustment using the Activator instrument. Sacro-occipital technique (SOT) blocking is used as part of the AK system to correct spinal faults with certain patterns -- categories I, II, and III. SOT is an extensive technique, but it has been simplified in the AK system to correct postures and spinal faults efficiently.
Total Body Modification (TBM): This is a diagnostic system that Dr. Victor Frank, DC, DNM, developed to expand on AK utilizing more body reflexes to address clinical problems. The body is viewed like a computer where it may malfunction due to "viruses," must be reprogrammed, and sometimes rebooted. All treatments are "saved" using SOT blocks. It's a great complement to the AK system and addresses further health problems that may be utilized to balance the body for a long-lasting effects of a single treatment. Allergies can be treated through this technique. Dr. Hwang has completed modules 1 & 2 in this technique that addresses 90% of the patients typically seen in a holistic chiropractic office.
Neuro-emotional Technique (NET): NET was originally conceived by Dr. Scott Walker, DC, to essentially center on finding and fixing chronically recurring Vertebral Subluxations. Originally the essence of NET was to help chiropractors fix the chronic recurring vertebral subluxation. Often the recurring subluxation is due to the overlooked primary subluxation(s). And, these primary subluxations can be partially due to an aberrant emotional overlay (or emotional complex). In turn, this emotional complex (see NEC below) influences muscles, which, of course, are the movers of vertebrae and other jointed bones. Many chiropractors and osteopaths have used the NET technology in this way since 1988, when the first NET seminar was taught. The original NET approach, as valuable as it is, turned out to be a launching pad for other innovations.
That while the NET intervention for the body was causing much physical relief (especially from chronic problems), they noticed that the “drama” of their lives was improving too; that they were less stressed, happier, felt more at ease, etc. This was a very welcome emotional “side effect” indeed. And over time, this “side effect” of emotional well-being was often judged by the patient to be the “main effect,” with the relief of the original physical complaint now re-categorized and proportionally relegated to be a side effect!
An award-winning neuroscientist Candace Pert, PhD, demonstrated the molecular basis of emotion to be neuropeptides, which are found in all parts of the body and most notably clustered in the posterior horn of the spinal cord.
NET works on these integrative foundations:
- The presenting subluxation is attached to a dysfunctional muscle.
- The muscle correlates with a meridian (via Goodheart).
- The meridian (via Five Element Law in TCM) correlates to an emotion.
- The emotion is traced via Meridian Access Points (MAPs) or Meric-style correlations to the primary subluxation(s).
- These primary subluxations have an unhealthy influence on the meridians and muscles, which influence the presenting (secondary) subluxations.
- These primary subluxations are then adjusted with the result of a newly restored healthy influence on the meridians and muscles and the elimination of (secondary) subluxations.
- In the process, patients often express profound emotional releases.
Dr. Hwang has completed the Basic course and have applied it to build clinical experience.
Customized nutritional consultation: Nutritional supplements and homeopaths are customized to completely fit the patient to be effective. Patients typically come into the office on supplements and/or medications that may be toxic to the body due to their inability to metabolize. Nutrition based on whole foods is vital to repairing and building the body. However, with the plant-based food no longer containing the nutrition it once did due to soil depletion and animal-based food due to rampant use of antibiotics and hormones, we have become nutritionally depleted even though we have eaten similarly or even worse since the 1950s. Companies like Standard Process has created a line of supplements that are organic and natural to reflect the perfect food that we should be consuming but are not. Dr. Hwang recommends the following companies:
- Standard Process - whole foods nutritional supplement - nutritionally equivalent to pounds of pure protein and phytonutrients
- Isagenix International - cleanse/detox program to jump start the body into a healing machine
- NET Remedies - homeopathic remedies that clear the toxins trapped in the meridian systems
- Thorne Research - for chronic patients who need the extra help
- Metagenics
- Pure Encapsulations
Soft tissue work: For stubborn scar tissues in muscles that do not respond to a trial of appropriate treatments, Dr. Hwang breaks up the scars between the fascia with wooden instruments that increases blood profusion into the nutritionally stagnant area. A common side effect is bruising due to breaking of some capillaries. Post-treatment stretching of the area and icing through the day diminishes the chance of bruising. The patients are usually left with better response to following treatments and rehabilitation.
Myofascial release technique may be utilized if the patient has an area that the wooden instrument may be too broad or hard, or simply not desired. This is manual soft tissue technique that incorporates breaking up the scar tissues through the practitioner's hands as the patient actively moves the muscles.
Rehabilitation: Because of the comprehensive nature of muscle balancing through AK, rehabilitation program is designed to meet the strengthening and the stretching needs of the patient. Core strengthening is typically recommended because of its importance in strengthening the spine for those with back problems. It is also recommended for those with balancing problems and lower extremity issues (e.g. ankle sprain, knee instability).
Kinesiotaping
|
