Sports Acupuncture ─ The Meridian Test and Its Applications

The meridian test (or ‘M-test’ ) is a powerful assessment, treatment, and self-care system that can be used to improve athletic performance and physical fitness. It simplifies the assessment of strain and injury so that even nonacupuncturists and athletes can learn to apply massage and stretching more effectively.The M-Test is one of the most popular methods of sports acupuncture in Japan. Developed by Mukaino Yoshito, M.D., of the Sports and Health Science Department at Fukuoka University,the M-Test is based on his extensive experience in physical education and sports medicine. The M-Test uses the meridian system of acupuncture to analyze the movements of multiple joints and muscles in a holistic way. The most suitable meridians for treatment are identified by evaluating a sequence of movements. Flexibility and ease of movement in relation to the meridians are assessed to identify the areas and muscles that need treatment.Based on the M-Test results, the synergistic action of the joints and muscles involved in the movements can be facilitated with acupuncture, massage, or stretching.For the acupuncturist, the M-Test provides another powerful assessment tool for the treatment of pain and compromised movement. This system is compatible with the traditional understanding of the meridians, but takes it a step further to clarify the relationship between the meridians and movement. Practitioners can render treatment with a better understanding of this relationship and identify the most effective points for treating pain and improving movement. The M-Test can also be used to evaluate the results of treatment or the stretching regimen so that a better strategy can be formulated if the results are unsatisfactory.Athletes can learn to perform M-Test movements before or even during competition to identify and correct abnormalities to improve their performance and prevent injuries.

Mukaino Yoshito, M.D., has specialized in sports medicine for nearly three decades. After completing his medical degree in Japan, and a brief period of acupuncture studies in China, he began teaching at Fukuoka University School of Medicine in 1982. In 1989 became a full professor in the newly-formed Department of Sports and Health Sciences. There he worked extensively with student athletes and sports trainers to develop the Meridian Test, a unique system for assessing and treating sports injuries. During the past two decades he has continued research and clinical work with athletes and has taught his M-Text system widely in Japan and abroad. In 2006 he helped found the Oriental Medicine Clinic of Fukuoka University and became its first director.