Segmental Drop Adjusting Featuring the Thompson Technique (Volumes 1 and 2)

Video Review by Stephen Savoie, DC

Title:

Segmental Drop Adjusting Featuring the Thompson Technique (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author:

Wayne Zemelka, DC

Publisher:

Multiple Interest Services Corp.

Part #:

V-474/V-475 (DVD); V-474Vid/V-475Vid (VHS)

It's not uncommon for professionals (in many fields) to go back and review the basics. Professional golfers spend time with a teaching pro at the beginning of a new season to review the fundamentals and eliminate accumulated bad habits. In baseball, there is always batting practice with the batting coach before a game. I am sure many chiropractors have at some time thought about a review of some of the fundamentals of an adjusting technique for the same reason: to get rid of "bad habits" and refresh their knowledge of the technique. This two-volume DVD set on segmental drop adjusting gives the practicing chiropractor and the chiropractic student that opportunity. Many of us were taught this technique in our undergraduate technique curriculum, or perhaps as an elective. Whether it was called Thompson technique, in honor of Dr. J. Clay Thompson, its originator, or segmental drop adjusting, the generic term, it is by all accounts one of the more common and popular chiropractic adjusting techniques.

Dr. Wayne Zemelka taught with Dr. Thompson and has been involved in teaching this technique for over 25 years. Dr. Zemelka brings his dual expertise in media production and technique instruction together to produce an excellent program on DVD. This program covers the wide range of applications of segmental drop adjusting. It begins with a review of the Derifield-Thompson leg analysis, leading into a discussion of the basic five categories of subluxation. The presentation progresses to include alternate moves that can be used in adjusting patients. In addition to the basic pelvic, lumbar and cervical syndromes, Dr. Zemelka also presents the analysis and adjusting of problems involving the psoas, rib and scapula misalignments, upper thoracic spine with special attention to the first rib, and less common cervical problems such as bilateral cervical syndrome and supine occiput adjusting. There is also discussion and demonstration of TMJ, the knee, shoulder/rotator cuff, and anterior rib adjustment. In short, this is a very complete package of analysis and adjusting procedures.

In each section, Dr. Zemelka shows the problem to be analyzed using a spinal/skeletal model to help practitioners understand the underlying osseous landmarks, and then demonstrates the analysis and adjusting procedure on a demonstration patient. This gives the viewer complete understanding of what is wrong, how it is evaluated, and precisely how the correction or adjustment should be performed. Dr. Zemelka's presentation is clear and readily understood. The camera work is first-class and shows clearly what is being discussed; it helps create a really high-quality product. As I viewed these DVDs, I was reminded of some adjusting procedures I had not thought about for some time, but that would definitely be of value to consider with patients under my care. We are never too old to learn or perhaps relearn our craft. Dr. Zemelka has provided an excellent vehicle to help us in the area of segmental drop adjusting.

Dr. Savoie's Rating:

9.5 out of 10