Muscle Monitoring Demystified: It’s Not Magic, It’s Science + Intuition

If you’ve ever wondered how muscle monitoring (also known as muscle testing) works—no, it’s not magic. While it might seem like we’re somehow tapping into hidden psychic powers, the truth is much more fascinating and grounded in science.

At its core, muscle monitoring is all about tapping into your body’s natural feedback loop. Our bodies are always responding to stimuli, whether that’s through thoughts, feelings, physical stress, or environmental changes. Every muscle in your body is connected to a nerve, and those nerves link up to your spinal cord, which communicates directly with your brain. That’s the feedback loop we’re working with, and muscle monitoring simply asks your body to reveal the answers that are already within.

Here’s where it gets a bit science-y (hi, fellow nerd friends): muscle monitoring is actually neuromuscular biofeedback. Yep, it’s a mouthful, but basically, it’s a way of measuring how your brain and muscles are talking to each other. Just like when a doctor taps your knee to check the reflex, we’re checking how your muscles respond to questions and specific acupressure points. And just like that knee jerk response, the muscles react based on what the body is feeling in the moment.

Now, let’s get a little woo-woo (because I know some of you love that too). For those who are more spiritually inclined, muscle monitoring is like tuning into your "innate awareness"—whatever that means for you. Some people call it their higher self, others refer to it as their soul, or simply the body’s wisdom. I like to joke that muscle monitoring is like playing a game of Celebrity Heads or Guess Who, where the body is the one with all the answers, and I (the practitioner) can only ask yes or no questions. Our job is to uncover the story your body is trying to tell us.

You might be wondering, "Where did this all come from?" Well, muscle testing has a fascinating history! It was serendipitously discovered by Dr. George Goodheart in the 1960s. He was originally working on chiropractic techniques when he realized that testing muscle strength could give him insight into other areas of health, including organ function. Dr. Goodheart’s discovery revolutionized kinesiology and started the path towards what we now call muscle testing. It was even used in the medical field to support polio recovery—talk about making a difference!

So, there you have it, folks. Muscle monitoring is not magic, it’s science — plus a dash of intuition. It’s your body’s own wisdom at work, and we’re just here to translate the messages. Muscle monitoring helps uncover what’s going on beneath the surface, tapping into that natural feedback loop between your brain, muscles, and energy system. And while it might seem mysterious, it’s actually a clear and grounded process that allows us to unlock your body’s answers, one question at a time.

Want to experience it for yourself? Check out our kinesiology taster sessions here.