Introduction to Systemic Kinesiology

SK uses the muscle testing as an instrument of functional evaluation and treats with neuromuscular regulation techniques, manual therapy and therapeutic exercises people with postural problems, osteomuscular pains and organic dysfunctions related to stress. Along with the muscle testing are other evaluating techniques, as observation of postural and fundamental patterns of movement, mobility tests, miofascial palpation and visceral listening. The information obtained by the evaluation process allow the identification of the primary dysfunctions of the body and help on the choice of an precise and effective therapeutic approach.

The functional evaluation from the Systemic Kinesiology has also by objective set the level of stabilization of the "abdominal central strength"(core), enabling the professional of physical education to prepare a training program that is individualized and grounded on the real motor competence of that person. That stimulates adhesion to a physical activity program, adding safety and preventing the appearance of pains and injuries. The same method can be used as reference for monitoring the progression of the exercises and can be applied to enhance the sports performance. By identifying and correcting the postural deviations, mobility restrictions and dysfunctions of the patterns of movement it is possible to improve significantly the performance of specific abilities.

Why the name Systemic Kinesiology?
The term "kinesiology" comes from the Greek word Kinesis, that means movement.
Kinesiology is the Science that studies the human movement associating knowledge of functional anatomy, biomechanics and physiology. It is a core discipline of the graduation courses of Physical Therapy, Physical Education, Occupational therapy and Sports Medicine. 

Through its study the professionals of this area are enabled to understand the forces that produce body movements and know how to administer them as to treat osteomuscular problems, prevent injuries or enhance human performance.
The word "systemic" on the methods name indicates the use of the systemic thinking to understand the human movement. To think in a systemic way is to think in terms of totality, context, orders and hierarchy. From this point of view the body is understood as a global system composed by many subsystems (musculoskeletal, nervous, visceral, glandular, circulatory, etc.) that interact e cooperate within themselves to sustain the functional integrity of the organism. Any imbalance in any subsystem affects immediately the others and compromises the functioning of the whole. For that matter, the key to treat a symptom that manifests as an osteomuscular pain can be at an visceral or neural dysfunction. On the same hand, the solution to circulatory, visceral or even psychological problems can be found in imbalances of the movement system.

The foundation of the Systemic Kinesiology is the understanding that, in the absence of any congenital anomaly or disease, the main cause for postural distortions and musculoskeletal pains are disturbances on the patterns of movement. These dysfunctions of the motor system are directly connected to the presence of inhibited muscles that, in order of a delay on the recruitment of its motor units, don't participate appropriately at the functional chains of movement. As the inhibited muscles show themselves unable to attend at the demands of the isolated functional test, they can easily be detected through the manual muscle testing. That is why the muscle testing is an excellent toll to locate body areas of imbalance, where the mechanisms of neurophysiological adaptation are decompensated.

 
The manual muscle test also can be used to identify changes in the state of facilitation or inhibition of a muscle in response to the input of a sensory stimulus. The reactions of a muscle to an sensory stimulus of known quality, compared to the expected neurophysiologic pattern, guides the kinesiologist understanding to the immediate state of the nervous system an allows an privileged access to the "body language". With Systemic Kinesiology this phenomenon, known as "muscular feedback testing" or "location therapy", is used for monitoring body answers to neurosensory challenges or therapeutic stimuli. 

The SK's techniques evaluate and correct muscular imbalances, help to reestablish the ideal functioning of the organism and provide stress relief. The purpose is to help the person into a state of well being and whole health, correcting dysfunctions at the three major systems of the body: osteomuscular, visceral and neural. To achieve this purpose three proceeding protocols were structured: Postural Alignment, Systemic Balancing and Neuroemotional Centering. 

Postural Alignment:
Developed to correct posture, enhance body mobility and special orientation. Evaluates and treats biomechanical dysfunctions, balancing tonus and rigidity of the main muscles involved at postural control.

Systemic Balancing:
Method used to adjust the neural control of the muscular system and restore the ideal function of organs and glands. Promotes body awareness and motor coordination. Is of great preventive value, for it allows the identification of functional imbalances, even before a disease takes place.

Neuroemotional Centering:
Created to organize the nervous system, enhance the balance and increase the capacity to adapt to stress. Helps in releasing negative emotions stocked in the body and brain, also to identify the tension factors able to disturb emotional stability.

* Applied Kinesiology developed by George Goodheart
** Neural Manipulation, Visceral Manipulation and Manual Articular Approach developed by Jean Pierre Barral
*** Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization developed by Pavel Kolar