George Goodheart, Jr., D.C., and a History of Applied Kinesiology

A historical review, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, tracing how Applied Kinesiology developed from the clinical work of its founder, Michigan chiropractor Dr George J. Goodheart, Jr.

The paper follows the method from its origin in 1964 — Goodheart’s report of resolving a patient’s chronic winged scapula by pressing on nodules near the origin and insertion of the serratus anterior — and shows how later procedures built on the work of others: neurolymphatic and neurovascular reflexes from Frank Chapman, D.O., and Terrence J. Bennett, D.C.; cerebrospinal fluid work from William G. Sutherland, D.O.; acupuncture meridian therapy after the writings of Felix Mann, M.D.; and the vertebral challenge and therapy localization techniques from phenomena described by L. L. Truscott, D.C.

The authors also note that, at the time of writing, research on Applied Kinesiology was still in its infancy.

The full abstract is available on PubMed, linked below.