Applied kinesiology chiropractic muscle therapy for athlete injuries

Applied kinesiology chiropractic muscle therapy for athlete injuries can “turn back on” muscles that remain a weak point for many athletes

Baseball fans around the country are talking about the incredible number of muscle strains that the New York Yankees are experiencing. Yankee management, players, and fans are aghast — while the rest of the population are counting their blessings and keeping their fingers crossed that the players on their favorite teams stay healthy.

Weekend warriors along with other athletes are often frustrated about what can be done to help with muscle injuries. One little-known answer is functional muscle testing (FMT) and applied kinesiology (AK), more specifically applied kinesiology chiropractic muscle therapy for athlete injuries.

Muscles and tendons

Doctors, physical therapists and trainers spend an incredible amount of time devoted to physiology and kinesiology. Surprisingly a simple physiological truth is often overlooked in the treatment of athletic injuries and in the subsequent rehabilitation; namely, that the Golgi Tendon Organs (GTO) at the musculoskeletal junctions at the origin and insertion of a strained muscle are in need of precise manipulation to restore the muscle back to physiological homeostasis.

These mechanoreceptors are critical in measuring tension in the muscle. Their function is to physiologically “shut off” the muscle by decreasing the neural tone of that muscle. It is a protective mechanism, much like the circuit breakers in your house.

Unfortunately, more often than not, these muscles do not “turn back on” physiologically speaking and remain a weak point for many athletes. The technique to quickly normalize this neural tone and improve physiological function to an injured muscle can be found in a kinesiological muscle manipulation procedure simply known as “Origin/Insertion Technique” or more aptly called Golgi Tendon Reset.

Golgi Tendon Reset

Here is an introduction to this therapeutic modality:

Test a suspected injured muscle such as the Peroneus Longus in a case of ankle sprain, the adductor muscles in the event of a groin strain, or wrist extensors (Extensor Carpi Ulnaris and Extensor Carpi Radialis) in the case of a classic tennis elbow.

If the muscle tests physiologically weak then have the patient place his or her hand over the origin and insertion. If this pressure creates a momentary neural facilitation of the muscle and decreases pain on manual muscle testing this is a clear indicator that Golgi Tendon Manipulation is indicated (with regards to tennis elbow this is similar to Kaplan’s Orthopedic Test).

The treatment is to manipulate the ends of the muscle towards each other for 30 seconds. Physiologically this simulates a decrease of neural tone and “resets” the Golgi Tendon mechanoreceptors and allows a return to normal function.

Test the muscle again. This time there should be improved function and less pain. Your patient may require several of these types of treatments along with cryotherapy, laser, ultrasound and any of the modalities you use to decrease inflammation.

Physiological therapy precedes physical therapy

After this physiological therapy and when the specific muscle no longer displays muscle dysfunction, physical therapy can now be implemented to successfully rehabilitate the muscle to its former strength. In other words, physiological therapy (to facilitate muscle function) precedes physical therapy (to facilitate muscular strength).

To recapitulate, muscles can suffer physiological deafferentation from improper signals from the Golgi Tendon Organ mechanoreceptors located at the musculotendinous junctions at their origin and insertion. Precise muscle manipulation of these mechanoreceptors can restore normal physiological tone and function to the muscle. This restoration of function is critical to full recovery and a successful rehabilitation.

Eugene Charles, DC, DIBAK, received his doctor of chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in 1987 and in 1994 he earned his diplomate degree in applied kinesiology. He teaches postgraduate courses teaching doctors of all disciplines in applied kinesiology. He has also created The Allergy Technique™ that is currently being used by doctors worldwide. He is the author of Journey To Healing: The Art and Science of Applied Kinesiology, available at https://amzn.to/2UcsJpu.