ATLANTA, Georgia -- The ninth annual clinical meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management was held September 10-13. Six doctors of chiropractic from across the U.S. were on this year's faculty. In addition, there were three poster presentations offered by DCs at the largest interdisciplinary pain management organization in the nation.
The American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) seeks to further develop the concept of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary care by fostering education among the many disciplines involved in pain control and rehabilitation. The academy's definition of pain control includes:
A. the systematic study of clinical and basic science and its application for the reduction of pain and suffering;
B. the blending of tools, techniques and principles taken from discrete disciplines from the healing arts to provide a holistic application for the reduction of pain and suffering;
C. a newly emerging discipline emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach (not necessarily under the same roof, but via professional collaboration) to help reduce pain and suffering in acute and chronic pain patients.
The AAPM celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Atlanta conference and hosted platform opportunities to many world-class speakers in the health professions. Clinical meeting participants heard Ronald Melzack, PhD, Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, and Janet Travell, MD, speak.
This year's presentations were made at the AAPM meeting by DCs Mayer Burgan; David BenEliyahu; Alfred Garbutt; Harvey Getzoff; Lucy White Ferguson; and Robert Klinginsmith. Poster presentations were made by Dr. Esther Remeta and Dr. Klinginsmith.
Mayer Burgan, DC, DABCO, DAAPM, presented a discussion on the myofascial pain syndrome with respect to etiology, perpetuating factors, treatment techniques including spray and stretch, and myofascial pain's relationship to joint dysfunction.
David BenEliyahu, DC, DABCSP, DAAPM, presented a case series on the utility and efficacy of cervical flexion distraction in the management of cervical disc herniations and radiculopathy, as well as the pathophysiology of cervical disc disease. Clinical and MRI outcomes were presented.
Alfred Garbutt, DC, DABCN, CCSP, DAAPM, presented a paper on the food and environmental hypersensitivity. He reviewed the effects they have on the nervous and immune systems and how they interact with the patient's perception of pain.
Harvey Getzoff, DC, DICS, co-presented a paper with a dentist on the TMJ syndrome. Their paper focused on the importance of co-treatment between dentists and chiropractors for successful outcomes in TMJ treatment.
Robert Klinginsmith, DC, DAAPM, presented a discussion on the chiropractic patient management protocol of evaluation, report of findings, formulating a treatment plan and outcomes reassessment. The discussion reviewed ways to empower patients and help give them control once again.
Lucy White-Ferguson, DC, co-presented with Nancy Shaw, MA, on the treatment of groin and hip pain. Evaluation, pathomechanics and treatment protocols involving joint and muscle dysfunction were discussed.
A poster presentation was made by Esther Remeta, DC, on SOTO diagnostic indicators for the SOT care of disc herniations. Another poster presentation was made by Dr. Robert Gordon on proprioception and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA).
The annual clinical meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management provides an opportunity for pain management clinicians of all disciplines to network with colleagues from the medical, dental, psychological, physical therapy, occupational therapy and massage therapy fields. The presentations made by the above DCs and the other health practitioners at the meeting were of high quality and represented our profession well and in a positive light to help foster interprofessional communication and collaboration. Ultimately, participating in meetings such as these will enhance the awareness of chiropractic's role in the care and management of not only acute pain, but chronic pain as well.
For more information, contact the American Academy of Pain Management.
Tel: (209) 533-9744
Website: [url=http://www.aapainmanage.org]http://www.aapainmanage.org[/url]
E-mail: aapm-aapainmanage.org
David J. BenEliyahu, DC, DABCSP, DAAPM
Selden, New York
drbenel-aol.com
Robert Klinginsmith, DC, DAAPM
Kansas City, Missouri
Esther Remeta, DC, DAAPM
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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