Kinesiology is derived from the Greek term ‘kinesis’ meaning movement and the suffix ‘ology’ indicating a science or branch of knowledge. Therefore on a basic level Kinesiology is the study of movement.
The term Kinesiology was coined by Swedish medical gymnast Carl August Georgii (translating Swedish “Rörelselära”, “movement science”) in 1854. In 1857 the Belgian-French physician Nicolas Dally published Cinésiologie ou science du mouvement (“Kinesiology or Science of Movement”). The word entered English only later, when Swedish-educated Nils Posse published The Special Kinesiology of Educational Gymnastics in 1894.
The Development of Muscle Testing
In modern times the concept of muscle testing was first developed in the early 20th century by a Boston orthopaedic surgeon, R.W. Lovett. Lovett used muscle testing to analyse disabilities resulting from polio and nerve damage. He observed that muscles testing weak often shared a common spinal nerve, allowing muscle testing to help identify neurological dysfunction.
In 1945 Henry and Florence Kendall modified and systematised Lovett’s ideas and published their pioneering book, “Muscles: Testing and Function”. The book provides coverage of muscle testing, plus evaluation and treatment of faulty and painful postural conditions.
The Birth of Applied Kinesiology
In 1964 an American chiropractor, Dr George J. Goodheart corrected a patient’s chronic winged scapula by pressing on nodules found near the origin and insertion of the involved anterior serratus muscle. He proposed relationships between muscles, acupuncture meridians and organ systems, integrating concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine into Applied Kinesiology. By combining these observations with the earlier work of Chapman on lymphatic reflex points and Bennett on vascular reflex points, Applied Kinesiology was born.
Touch for Health and Modern Kinesiology
Then in 1973 Chiropractor Dr. John Thie, a student of Goodheart, published Touch for Health. Thie had developed a comprehensive synthesis of Chinese meridians, chiropractic principles, and person-centred counselling. Opening these techniques to a wider audience meant, Kinesiology became widespread.
Today, many branches of kinesiology have evolved from these early foundations. Depending on the school of kinesiology and the practitioner’s training, modern kinesiology may integrate concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine, manual muscle testing, behavioural science, nutrition, stress physiology and other complementary disciplines.
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