© Touch for Health Kinesiology Association Journal (year 2001)

Binary and Analog Muscle Testing

Researched and developed by Alan Sales
INSTITUTE OF CYBERKINETICS
PO Box 3456, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 8TH, England
Phone/Fax: +44 020-8651-2496; Email: cyberkinectics@lineone.net
www.healingtuningforks.co,uk

Written by Leila Turner

9 rue Adrian Lique, 74lO0 Annemasse, France
Phone: +33450377970; e-mail: LeilaTurner@Wanadoo.fr

Abstract: This presentation is about a new form of muscle testing and balancing of
enormous value. It takes into consideration the fact that living systems are always
moving in some way or another. Traditional muscle testing in contrast is relatively
static. This new, so called analog testing, takes care of that important dynamic
component. The presentation is based on the findings of Alan Sales, U.K., as
published by him in 1997. The practical uses of it are far reaching and might well
have a big influence on how kinesiology will be practiced in the future. The method,
which has already been presented last year in Zurich by Alfred Schatz, is easy, has
shown enormous benefits and can be utilized immediately in any form of
kinesiology.

Kinesiology is the study of movement. Life is extension, and in seven positions from
movement. extension to contraction, the muscle is still
tested in a binary mode (static state) ..
When we look at muscle testing, we have to
admit that it is relatively static. It would seem If a muscle doesn't hold in a certain position,
to be a better idea to study muscle function, we assess it as a switched off muscle, or a «
not only a Yes/No or On/Off response of the weak» muscle. But, for example, let's take
muscle, but also to look at the dyn a mi c the Quadriceps: Even when it is switched off
junction of the muscle. Kendall & Kendall or « weak », we can still jump up and down ...
discovered the range of motion of different Therefore we don't have a complete picture of
muscles with electrical stimulation the muscle ...
(electromyography); so we know the exact We have to admit that we are bold, and often
amplitude of a muscle. Then why test a wrong to assess a muscle the way we do. We
muscle in one position and not another? Its the can't conclude on the overall functional state
same muscle. of the muscle based on that observation alone.
Richard Utt pondered that question and looked Being able to hold in a certain position is an
at a muscle through its whole range of motion. important function of a muscle; monitoring a
He developed a system with fourteen muscle in such manner, is called Binary
positions, related to object and reference Testing. But the human body is dynamic and
meridians. Fantastic. That has already in motion most of the time, the essence of
changed our way of looking at the body. Analog Muscle Testing covers this dynamic
But now is raised another question: Why 14 aspect, with the muscles being monitored in
and not 1000000 positions. All steps in motion, and « under load» or subject to
between also belong to the muscle. In Applied stress.
Physiology, even though we monitor the
This is a new concept: To demonstrate how a
muscle in seven positions from contraction to

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muscle can show its whole movement testing, the muscles become the variables,
abilities as in daily life. This allows us to truly modulating indicators, within the range
find graduations in muscle functionality. We of motion from contraction to extension and
don't monitor only an on/off response, but vice versa.
also how far On or how far Off. Converted into muscle testing, this functional
We therefore don't test in a fixed position, but analogy becomes a test of the muscle's ability
in movement function ... because life is to slowly perform a given operation under
movement! ! load rather than its ability to resist a binary
challenge.
The Binary system, based on computer
technology, can be defined as consisting of Therefore, a "mushy" muscle -- the one that is
utilizing two operations to produce a third not quite on or off -- can be interpreted as the
performing operation. analog display mechanism's attempts to try
and display a given status which does not
Converting this functional analogy into the involve binary principles.
context of muscle testing, Binary Muscle
In the analog test state, the muscle possesses a
Testing is essentially a two dimensional test
third quality of display and becomes a
procedure in terms of the assessment of
multidimensional feedback mechanism able to
performance of any part of the biocomputer
provide information on the whole performance
system. It therefore represents either a locked
of the entire system, of a circuit within that
or unlocked/enabled or disabled status of the
system or even of a single component of that
muscle feedback mechanisms.
system. In this mode, the muscle no longer
In terms of the display mechanisms which are displays solely on the principle of
the muscles themselves, there are no in- locked/unlocked. It also indicates the status of
between states. By definition, the picture is how much of the system is performing by
restricted to only two planes of functional measuring any or all of its variable qualities
feedback output. Even when monitoring which make up the whole. In other words, it's
within the whole range of motion, the testing a holographic muscle test.
displays a binary on/off function at every
point along its travel, from contraction to Conclusion:
extension and vice versa. This type of testing, In this analogy, a binary test would indicate
as it is used in Applied Physiology, can whether the body/mind system is operating or
convey valuable information concerning the not, and an analog test would indicate how
meridians which are affecting the performance much of what is «On» is operating and
of that muscle or its related aspects in terms of functioning correctly, and how much the
its related organ, etc., but in terms of the full combination of what is «On» and what is
potential of the muscle, this cannot be the «Off» is affecting the system's overall
whole story as it still appears to be only one performance.
facet of the muscle's total function. What
about all the operational support mechanisms Analog Muscle Testing keeps the muscle
that enable the muscle to function correctly? under a constant load, asking the person to
Something seemed to be missing ... continue to hold (resist) while holding the
Analog Mode (Thumb pad to nailbed of
Analog Muscle Testing may well turn out to
little finger. Fig. 2). The alternative to the
be a broader representation of the muscle and
its function as a whole unit. Analog finger mode is to just gently rock the
muscle back and forth across its normal
The Analog System, in terms of current start position just prior to the testing and
computer technology, operates quite this informs the biocomputer that the muscle's
differently. It measures data in a proportional ability to perform is about to be monitored in a
way rather than counting singular aspects, dynamic state under load.
having the ability to measure and/or compare
many variable aspects of the system and the At a certain point in the range of motion in the
components within it. In relation to muscle Analog test, the muscle locks and holds

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(unless of course we are looking at a flaccid trulv totally subconscious testing controlled
muscle). The appropriate correction will by the Cerebellum rather than the
improve the muscle performance, thus be able conscious-subconscious Cortical-Limbic
to hold in the TFH position, which is the most circuits of Binary Muscle Testing. These
contracted position; this will reflect 100% cerebella circuits may contain quite different
functionality (Fig. I). The same principle may information than the more usually tested
be applied from extension towards binary circuits, which until the invention of
contraction. Analog Muscle Testing remained «hidden» to
kinesiologists. "

© Alan Sales, Institute of Cyberkinetics 2001

© Alan Sales, Institute of Cybcrkinctics 2001
Fig. 2 : Analog Mode: Thumb pad to
Figure t: Diagram of Analog nail bed of little finger
testing of Supraspinatus
A muscle worked on this way has almost a Basic Concept and Practice of
holographic effect on the body, giving far- Analog Muscle Testing:
reaching benefits and producing profound A) Basic principles of analog muscle
changes when used in balances, over and testing:
above what we get with the normal muscle
testing. 1. Put a muscle in its contracted position. Test
& balance as usual. This ensures that the
Alfred Schatz calls Alan's discovery a muscle is a reliable indicator using the binary
"Quantum Leap in Kinesiology". system first (In absence of specific data, the
Charles Krebs also has been working muscle displays its current status on a general
enthusiastically with Analog Muscle Testing level in binary form).
for over a year now. He has calculated the Note: If the muscle locks, it simply displays
different neurological pathways that the an On/enabled state, but isn't an indicator of
impulses follow through the brain, and feels its current performance in relation to its full
that the "Analog Muscle Testing is really and potential.

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2. Hold Analog Mode (thumb pad over nail Modality Mode.]

bed of little finger) or enter it into Pause-Lock. This procedure allows us to select the highest
This instructs tile biocomputer to measure and priority imbalance and apply the most
analyse many different variables in order to appropriate balancing technique.
respond. Again. let's take the TFH 14 muscle balance as
3. Retest the muscle, applying continuous an example:
pressure towards extension. If the muscle I. Enter Analog Mode and Modality Mode
unlocks, allow it to continue slowly against 2. Check one muscle after the other: Only the
resistance, keeping the pressure on lightly one which meets the modality criteria will show.
until the muscle locks, at some point on its (You can even speed up the process by
travel to maximum extension (you are identifying the meridian which supplies the
effectively testing the muscle in motion) and muscle in question: Check the alarm points and
under load. then the muscles which relate to the meridian of
the alarm point that gave an IIC.)
Note: Load = Stress (in any form)
4. Observe at what position of the range of
motion the muscle locks (The position at
which the muscle locks provides a readout of
its actual performance, If it locks for instance
in the middle of its travel through the test
range, it is only performing at half of its full
potential. It indicates that the system as a
whole, including all of its support systems is
only performing at half of its full function.
Fig. 1)
B) Analog testing and balancing
procedure as in a TFH 14 muscle
balance
... First, do a 14 muscle balance the usual way,
in Binary state (for demonstration purposes).
1. Hold Analog Mode or enter it into Pause-
Lock.
2. Begin as usual by testing Supraspinatus. If it
shows a slack:
3. CL the NL, NV, Acu points, etc. while you © Alan Sales, Institute of Cyberkinetics 2001
arc retesting Supraspinatus still in Analog
mode. Fig. 3 : Binary Mode: Tip of thumb
4. Apply the correction that gives the most nail to nail bed of little finger
increase in function of the muscle. 3. Hold or enter Binary Mode (Tip of thumb
5. Retest the muscle (still in Analog Mode). nail to nailbed of little finger. Fig. 3) into your
6. If it is still not at 100% of its performance, circuit. (Note: The alternative to the Binary
check for the next balancing option (the one finger mode is to hold the muscle stationary on
which will show the highest increase in muscle its start position for a few moments prior to the
function) and apply it accordingly. usual test, which informs the Biocomputer that
the muscle is about to be tested in a static state
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until the muscle performs under load.)
at 100% when tested.
4. Enter or hold Modality Mode again and
8. Check the next muscle in its Analog Mode, check for the appropriate balancing option
and repeat steps 3 - 7 until all 14 muscles (Now only the most appropriate modality will
perform at 100%. show (the "priority of priorities")
C) Using Modality Mode: 5. Apply the appropriate balancing procedure
[See Appendix for more information on the as revealed in step 4

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6. Let go of Binary Mode, and hold or enter to be expressed even more fully than with
Analog Mode into your circuit Priority Mode" (Charles Krebs. founder of
7. Recheck the muscle LEAP). "Modality" describes the state or
qualities of being "/11 Modal" or simply "/11 The
8. For demonstration purposes. check all 14
Mode". the "Way a Thing Is Done". giving the
muscles. Most of the time. all of them arc 100%
biocomputer a "Specific State of Operation ".
functional. If not. you just repeat the above This mode directs the practitioner to the
procedure with the rcmai ni ng ones.
deepest underlying imbalance and allows the
Appendix - MODALITY MODE body/mind system to make the most
appropriate selection from the menu .offcrcd ..
The Modal. in simple kinesiology terms can be
defined as the correct category, sequence or
order in which \-I'eshould be operating within
the bodv/mind svstem, To enter the Modal
command into the biocomputer. we usc the new
Modality finger mode. discovered by Alan
Sales in 1996. This mode is very similar to the
Priority finger mode, except that it is the nail
itself of the middle finger that touches the
interphalangeal joint of the thumb. instead of
the tip (see diagram below).
The Modality mode will differentiate between
multi-priorities to give you the sequence or
mode of correction that the biocomputer
prefers out of the menu or choices of priority
that are offered. In other words, Modality gives
us what Alan Sales calls the "Priori t)' of
Priorities", and what Alfred Schatz (IKC faculty
for Germany) refers to as the "Highest
Priority", For Sandy Gannon (IKe faculty for
England). Modality gives the" Core to Correct",
meaning that even if several "priorities" are
indicated. the modality being one of them. that
correction then appears to make other priority
© Alan Sales. Institute of Cybcrkinctics 200 I corrections unnecessary, as they will no longer
Figure 4..Modality mode: Surface of show once the modality has been addressed.
middle fingernail to distal Alan Sales believes that the Priority Mode and
thumb crease the Modality Mode operate different programs.
He also holds that the great power and the
As practitioners. when we screen our unimaginable complexity of the biocomputer
kinesiology tests with Priority mode. we are make it capable of working in two programs
sometimes presented with several aspects of (and more than that) at the same time: that's
imbalances in the biocornputcr. all which why it is so very helpful to use modes to make
require corrections as a priority. Alan Sales' our commands/requests for information as
interpretation of Priority is that it reveals a specific as possible.
"ready to fix/accept the correction" type input.
That is maybe the reason why kinesiologists A common example of its use is to pause-lock
often find more than one priority and struggle the Modality mode at the beginning of a
to find a clear direction. balance with nothing else in circuit, and then
select the modes of operation or correction
We could be even more effecti ve by allowing procedures. This may save a great deal of
the body/mind system to dictate its required balancing time as the practitioner is directed to
mode or specific state of operation, giving us what really matters.
direction and simple sequence to the desired
tasks. The application of Modality can take many
varied forms. and is subject to the limits of
"The Modality Mode appears to allow the « knowledge and imagination of each
body's innate wisdom ». its knowledge of the practi tioner.
true « causal factors» involved in an imbalance.

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