Commentary : The Ileocecal valve point and muscle testing: a possible mechanism of action

The muscle test procedure is a common test used by manual therapists. Fundamental to the vitalistic diagnostic protocols is the application of the muscle test before and after stimulation of points on the body said to represent various anatomical sites and functions. One such point is the ileocecal valve point. This point is said to represent the function of the ileocecal valve and is associated with various syndromes, including low back pain. The authors synthesise new research that provides evidence for the existence of a mechanism to explain this process. Discussion of this literature is important in light of an explanation of a mechanism that has hitherto not been explained adequately in terms of published peer reviewed literature.