AK Muscle Testing & Functional Evaluation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In applied kinesiology, a 'therapy localization' test involves the patient touching an area while the practitioner:
- Applies deep pressure to the spine
- Re-tests a previously weak indicator muscle (Correct answer)
- Stretches the antagonist muscle
- Measures grip strength bilaterally
Correct answer: Re-tests a previously weak indicator muscle
Therapy localization uses a previously weak indicator muscle to determine if touching a specific area changes the muscle's response, indicating a related dysfunction.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'switching' in AK muscle testing?
- Alternating between bilateral muscle groups
- A neurological disorganization causing aberrant muscle test results (Correct answer)
- Testing muscles in both concentric and eccentric contraction
- Swapping the examiner's testing hand mid-procedure
Correct answer: A neurological disorganization causing aberrant muscle test results
Switching refers to a state of neurological disorganization where the body's normal response patterns are reversed or inconsistent during muscle testing.
Question 3: The 'frozen' or 'locked' muscle response in AK testing, where a strong muscle cannot be inhibited by challenge, is most associated with:
- Optimal neuromuscular function
- Hypertonic facilitated state requiring inhibitory techniques (Correct answer)
- Hypotonic inhibited state requiring strengthening
- Normal proprioceptive feedback
Correct answer: Hypertonic facilitated state requiring inhibitory techniques
A muscle that remains strong despite challenge may be in a hypertonic facilitated state, which in AK can indicate overactivity or compensatory patterns requiring inhibitory treatment.
Question 4: In AK, the piriformis muscle is primarily tested with the patient prone and the knee flexed to 90°. The testing force is applied:
- Axially along the tibia toward the hip
- Medially rotating the leg (pushing foot outward)
- Laterally rotating the leg (pushing foot inward) (Correct answer)
- Superiorly compressing the knee joint
Correct answer: Laterally rotating the leg (pushing foot inward)
With the knee at 90° and patient prone, the piriformis is tested by applying force to rotate the leg medially (push the foot inward), which externally rotates the hip against resistance.
Question 5: Reactive muscle patterns in AK refer to:
- Muscles that respond strongly to nutritional supplementation
- A relationship where one muscle inhibits another after stress or activity (Correct answer)
- Bilateral muscle imbalances detected on postural analysis
- Reflex arcs activated by percussion testing
Correct answer: A relationship where one muscle inhibits another after stress or activity
Reactive muscles are pairs where the activation or stress of one muscle causes inhibition of another, often identified by finding a weak muscle that normalizes when the reactive muscle is inhibited.
Question 6: When performing a muscle test for the middle trapezius in AK, the patient's arm is positioned:
- Flexed to 90° at the elbow with forearm supinated
- Abducted to 90° in the scapular plane with external rotation
- Horizontally abducted at 90° with the elbow extended (Correct answer)
- At the side with the shoulder internally rotated
Correct answer: Horizontally abducted at 90° with the elbow extended
The middle trapezius is tested with the arm horizontally abducted at 90° (shoulder at 90°, elbow extended) and the shoulder externally rotated, isolating scapular retraction.
Question 7: In AK functional evaluation, the term 'bilateral challenge' is used to:
- Test both limbs simultaneously for strength comparison
- Apply opposing forces to both sides of a joint to identify fixations (Correct answer)
- Assess whether a nutritional supplement improves bilateral muscle tone
- Compare left vs. right indicator muscle responses to the same stimulus
Correct answer: Apply opposing forces to both sides of a joint to identify fixations
Bilateral challenge applies opposing forces simultaneously to both sides of a joint or structure to identify fixations or lesions that affect spinal or cranial mechanics.
AK Muscle Testing & Functional Evaluation 2
In applied kinesiology, a 'therapy localization' test involves the patient touching an area while the practitioner: