AK Treatment Protocols & Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Bennett's neurovascular reflex points in AK are stimulated by:
- Deep sustained digital pressure lasting 20–30 seconds
- Light touch held until a pulse-like rhythm is felt under the fingertips (Correct answer)
- Cold application for 5 minutes followed by heat for 10 minutes
- Percussive tapping in a specific directional pattern
Correct answer: Light touch held until a pulse-like rhythm is felt under the fingertips
Bennett's neurovascular reflexes are treated with very light fingertip contact held until a subtle pulse or rhythm is palpated, indicating vascular normalization.
Question 2: In the AK cranial sacral assessment, which finding would most directly prompt intervention at the sphenobasilar junction (SBS)?
- Bilateral weakness of the psoas muscles
- Asymmetrical cranial rhythmic impulse with temporal bone restriction (Correct answer)
- Inhibition of the pectoralis major clavicular division
- Unilateral weakness of the gluteus medius
Correct answer: Asymmetrical cranial rhythmic impulse with temporal bone restriction
An asymmetrical cranial rhythmic impulse with temporal bone restriction suggests SBS dysfunction, which AK addresses through cranial techniques.
Question 3: The 'five factors of the IVF' in AK refers to structures that pass through the intervertebral foramen. Which of the following is NOT one of those five?
- Spinal nerve root
- Arterial supply
- Venous drainage
- Aortic branch vessel (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Aortic branch vessel
The five IVF factors are the spinal nerve, arterial supply, venous drainage, lymphatics, and connective tissue; the aorta does not pass through the IVF.
Question 4: An AK practitioner suspects a sacroiliac fixation. After confirming with muscle testing, the most appropriate initial manipulative procedure would be:
- High-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust at the lumbar spine
- Blocking technique using wedge-shaped blocks under the pelvis to decompress the SI joint (Correct answer)
- Traction of the lower extremity to gap the joint
- Application of a sacral inhibitory technique with the patient prone
Correct answer: Blocking technique using wedge-shaped blocks under the pelvis to decompress the SI joint
Sacral blocking (using wedge blocks) is a low-force AK-compatible technique that uses gravity and patient body weight to release SI fixations.
Question 5: In AK protocol, the anterior neck muscle most commonly tested as an indicator for cervical spine dysfunction is the:
- Sternocleidomastoid (Correct answer)
- Anterior scalene
- Longus colli
- Platysma
Correct answer: Sternocleidomastoid
The sternocleidomastoid is a primary AK indicator muscle for upper cervical spine dysfunction and cranial faults.
Question 6: When using acupuncture meridian therapy in AK, treating an over-energy meridian typically involves:
- Stimulating the source point of that meridian
- Sedating the meridian by tonifying its controlling element (Correct answer)
- Needling the ting points bilaterally in a distal-to-proximal direction
- Massaging the meridian in the direction of energy flow
Correct answer: Sedating the meridian by tonifying its controlling element
In five-element theory applied in AK, over-energy in a meridian is reduced by tonifying the meridian that controls it in the ko (controlling) cycle.
Question 7: A patient presents with a weak right piriformis in AK testing. The most likely associated visceral organ to evaluate would be:
- Right kidney
- Sigmoid colon
- Urinary bladder (Correct answer)
- Gall bladder
Correct answer: Urinary bladder
The piriformis muscle is associated with the urinary bladder organ in AK muscle-organ relationships based on meridian correlations.
AK Treatment Protocols & Procedures 3
Bennett's neurovascular reflex points in AK are stimulated by: