Annals of the Swiss Chiropractors' Association -- Volume VI

Softcover -- 295 pages

See pages XXX on how to order

A few years ago one of America's leading news magazines printed an article about how medical researchers had discovered why a bony articulation might make a popping sound when it was stressed. Right away I recalled an article printed in the Swiss Annals some years earlier giving virtually the same information. It seemed apparent that medical researchers had a bias even in what they allow themselves to read.

Generally speaking, we don't have that problem. Virtually all our papers are referenced from every conceivable source available and the bookshelves in our offices and schools are filled with texts other than our own. Since the wise physician allows exposure to all avenues of information, chiropractors must indeed be paragons of this virtue.

The volume of the Annals which contained the information about articular cavitation was published in 1976 in Volume VI. This particular paper was authored by the eminent chiropractic researcher Dr. R. Sandoz. Articular cavitation was but a small part of this engrossing article entitled "Some Physical Mechanisms and Effects of Spinal Adjustments." In it, Sandoz covers the effects of spinal adjustments in such areas as disc strain, the stiffening of segments of the spine, and foraminal nerve compression. Every informed DC should place this paper on his must study list.

Not to be outdone, the late Henri Gillet presented a classic study on the clinical measurements of sacro-iliac mobility. You will probably find yourself, as did I, reminded of certain clinical procedures long forgotten but useful the next day in practice.

As usual, the Swiss Annals Volume VI follows in and extends the tradition of excellence we have come to expect from the Swiss Chiropractors' Association. One is almost tempted to try to seal Switzerland off from the rest of the chiropractic community so that the integrity of their research will remain as focused and pure as it seems to be.

Of all the classics in this volume, the paper by Dr. E. Lorez, "Some Fundamentals of Human Locomotion," was probably the most satisfying. While we are essentially the "mechanics" of the healing disciplines, there are too many things that we as chiropractors take for granted. Think for a moment of how many classes you took on the mechanics of walking -- yet what could be more indigenous to the integrity of spinal mechanics?

The preceding is followed by a gem on the inequalities of the lower extremities by J.P. Ladermann while later in the volume is one of the more thought provoking pieces on the neurophysiological evidence for manipulative therapeutics. Authored by Dr. K.V. Singarajah, it will challenge some of the concepts still held by many within the profession. In another related piece, Singarajah addresses the sodium and calcium antagonism at the neuroglandular junctional transmission receptor sites.

One of the qualities I appreciate about Singarajah is his lack of verbosity. His papers are succinct and filled with useful and interesting information. Not a comma or period is wasted, with all the letters falling into the right places. This usually happens when the author has a firm grasp on the subject he covers.

Egli's paper on the psychological impact of chiropractic therapy, Keller's on the clinical value of spinal extension therapy, and Sandoz's excellent classification of luxations, subluxations and fixations of the cervical spine make Volume VI one of the most important in the Swiss Annals series.

Too many in the chiropractic profession never allot the time to read more than the tracts produced by practice improvement entrepreneurs. The result is that all too many go around postulating ideas whose validity has long been suspect.

The Swiss Annals volumes are extraordinary compendiums of valuable research information of which Volume VI is one of the most important. They are highly recommended for your bookshelf and your mind.

RHT