Muscle Testing (Applied Kinesiology)

What is muscle testing?

Muscle testing—also called applied kinesiology—is a tool we use to help figure out what your body needs when lab results don’t tell the whole story.

Here’s how it works: We test the strength of specific muscles while you’re exposed to different substances (like supplements or foods). Your body’s response tells us what might be helping or harming you.

It does sounds unusual, but when labs come back “normal” and you still feel terrible, muscle testing can fill in the gaps.

When do we use it?

We don’t use muscle testing with every patient. But when we do, it’s usually because:

Your labs don’t match how you feel. Sometimes blood work looks fine on paper, but you’re still exhausted, bloated, or in pain. Muscle testing helps us see what’s happening that standard tests might miss.

We’re narrowing down supplements. Instead of guessing which supplements you need, we can test your body’s response to different options and build a protocol that actually works for you.

Something’s not showing up on stool tests. Parasites, yeast, and other gut issues can hide. Muscle testing sometimes picks up what GI tests miss.

You’ve hit a plateau. If we’ve been working together for months and progress has stalled, muscle testing can help us figure out what needs to change.

How it works in practice.

During muscle testing, you’ll extend your arm while we apply gentle pressure. Then we’ll introduce different substances—usually small vials of supplements, foods, or other compounds.

If your muscle stays strong, your body’s okay with it. If your muscle weakens, that’s a signal something’s off.

Here’s what makes it accurate:

You won’t know what we’re testing. If you know what’s in the vial, your mind can influence the test. Same goes for us—we have to set aside what we think is going on and just let your body respond.

Sometimes we use files without looking at the labels. That way neither of us knows what we’re testing until after. It’s more like a double-blind study.

Then, once we pull the ones that test positive, you’ll often say, “Oh yeah, I’ve always had issues with that” or “That makes so much sense.” That confirmation tells me we’re on the right track.

What To Expect

It’s part of a bigger picture. Muscle testing doesn’t replace lab work or a thorough exam. It’s an additional tool we use when needed—usually alongside functional medicine testing.

It takes an open mind. You don’t have to believe in it for it to work, but you do have to be willing to try. If you’re skeptical, that’s fine. Just see what happens.

It’s not a magic answer. Muscle testing helps me narrow down what to focus on, but it still takes time and consistency to see results. We’re figuring out what your body needs—not handing you a quick fix.

Common Questions

Is this scientifically proven?

Muscle testing is controversial. Some studies support it, others don’t. What we can tell you is that we’ve used it successfully with patients who’ve been stuck for years. For some people, it’s the missing piece.

Do I have to do muscle testing?

No. If you’re not comfortable with it, we won’t use it. There are plenty of other ways to figure out what’s going on.

How long does it take?

Muscle testing usually takes 10-20 minutes, depending on how many substances we’re testing. It’s integrated into your regular appointment, so it won’t add extra time or visits.