Healer
Goodheart, George
Category: Healer
George Joseph Goodheart, Jr., D.C. (1918 – 2008) was a chiropractor who founded applied kinesiology.
Applied Kinesiology is both a diagnostic and therapeutic system. One of the interesting things about it, is that many of the techniques incorporated in it were derived from practical observation of patients, - what worked and what didn’t.
The first techniques were discovered by Dr Goodheart, and other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were added as time went on and by other people using the ideas of Frank Chapman, D.O., Terrence J. Bennett, D.C., and William G. Sutherland, D.O.
Later, influenced by the writings of Felix Mann, M.D., Dr Goodheart incorporated acupuncture meridian therapy into the AK system. In other words, the system of Applied Kinesiology merged and became another complementary healing system– based on the same meridians, trigger points and principles of other healing systems.
George J. Goodheart was born on August 18, 1918 in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After attending the University of Detroit and the National College of Chiropractic, he joined his father, Dr. George Goodheart, Sr., in Detroit. He later moved to an office in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. In total, he practiced Chiropractic actively for over 50 years in both Detroit and Groose Pointe, Michigan. Dr. Goodheart was the first Chiropractor to serve on the U. S. Olympic Medical Committee in 1980.
In 1964, Dr. Goodheart made the first correlation between finding a weak muscle using manual muscle testing and then employing chiropractic therapy to make it stronger. Thus he became the inventor of muscle response testing and named the technique “applied kinesiology”.
Dr. Goodheart wrote many books on Applied Kinesiology and lectured on the subject for many years. He taught applied kinesiology not only to chiropractors but to other health professionals including naturopaths, allopathic physicians, dentists, nutritionists, physical therapists, massage therapists, and nurses.
One of the major positive aspects of George's approach to treating illness was that it was cause based. In other words, although the symptoms may have been an indicator to him of a disease or illness being present, he tried to teach people to find the cause of illness. Or as Gary Erkfritz [see references] said:
"Dr. Goodheart had a unique way of looking at a patient’s problem and asking, 'Why is that?'
Dr. Goodheart’s intuitive ability to 'listen to the body' and problem-solve patient concerns with a kind, thoughtful demeanor contributed to the success of his practice.
'See with eyes that see and hear with ears that hear' was his counsel to other doctors."
Dr Goodheart encouraged all those he taught to observe and listen closely to their patients before diagnosis. He was a consummate family doctor, who rarely tired of seeing patients and would often identify an abnormal gait of a stranger walking down the street or pick the problem of a colleague in a seminar that needed his help.
Patients from far and wide sought his expertise, travelled all the way to be evaluated by him. He treated clergy at no charge, and it was not uncommon for him to receive payment in the form of vegetables or prayers from those who were unable to pay. Dr. Goodheart often remarked that he couldn’t believe he was paid for doing something he so loved.
Dr Goodheart was a very good advertisement for his own methods. He had a lifelong passion for tennis, and was still skiing in the Alps at the age of 83. He was a life member of the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club, Detroit Athletic Club and the Detroit Rotary.
Dr. George Joseph Goodheart died peacefully at his home on March 5, 2008. He was 89 years of age.
References
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997 Jun;20(5):331 -7. George Goodheart, Jr., D.C., and a history of applied kinesiology. Gin RH, Green BN. PMID: 9200049
George J Goodheart, Jr. The Father of Applied Kinesiology - Gary Erkfritz, DC [1060 JNECM Fall 2008, VOL. 4, NO. 3]
According to Erfritz, The International College of Applied Kinesiology, which Dr Goodheart co-founded, had grown to more than 600 members in the U.S. and over 3,000 worldwide by 2008. "Every day millions of people worldwide receive the benefit of Dr. Goodheart’s work".
Observations
For iPad/iPhone users: tap letter twice to get list of items.