Patients who are being tested with the applied kinesiology method are told to resist movement and use of muscles while the chiropractor applies force to various muscle groups. Rather than testing raw strength, the test evaluates tension to indicate various health issues. Although a good response is called “strong” and a poor response is called “weak”, this is not referring to physical strength at all – rather, it is referring to the implied health of that muscle group.

Another main component of applied kinesiology is nutrient testing, which tests a patient’s reaction to various chemicals and nutrients. This usually involves placing various chemicals near the skin, or having the patient hold a bottle of pills. Proponents of this theory state that if the patient has a negative, or weak, reaction to the pills, then they should avoid ingesting those pills.

There is much controversy about the study and practice of applied kinesiology. While some studies have shown that these treatments may not be as effective as other methods, many studies from the International College of Applied Kinesiology strive to prove otherwise. It is true that there are no official measurement standards with this method, so the results are subjective. Due to this, it is possible that one could have much better results with one chiropractor than with another. This makes it hard for widespread studies of random testing to accurately portray the effectiveness of applied kinesiology.