Dr. Henri Gillett

1960s — This decade saw continued proliferation of brand name and generic chiropractic techniques, including Applied Kinesiology (AK), Direct Non-Force Technique (Richard Van Rumpt, DC), Mears Technique (Donald B. Mears, DC), motion palpation, Receptor-Tonus Technique (Raymond L. Nimmo, DC and James F. Vannerson, MA, DC), among others.

Especially prominent among these offerings were the works of Henri Gillett, DC of Brussels, Belgium and George J. Goodheart, DC of Detroit, each of whom offered dozens of articles to the readers of the Digest of Chiropractic Economics.

Gillett wrote and lectured extensively about passive motion palpation of spinal and other joints as a means of detecting adjustment-worthy fixations in these structures; his work was later promoted by L. John Faye, DC of the Motion Palpation Institute.

Dr. George Goodheart

Goodheart introduced AK to the profession in the pages of the Digest in 1964. Goodheart’s AK drew from diverse theoretical sources, including acupuncture, the neurolymphatic reflexes of Frank Chapman, DO, the neurovascular concepts of Terrence J. Bennett, DC, the cranio-sacral concepts of Major B. DeJarnette, DO, DC, and William G. Sutherland, DO, and the vertebral challenge and therapy localization methods offered by Leon L. Truscott, DC.

Goodheart’s followers subsequently organized the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK). John Thie, DC, the first president of the ICAK, is best known for his development of the “Touch for Health” technique.