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Book Reviews
Title: Foot Orthoses and Other Forms of Conservative Foot Care
Author: Thomas C. Michaud, DC
Publication: Hardcover, 234 pages, $80
Publisher: William & Wilkins
Category: Doctor/student education
Editor's Note: This is a reprint of the review originally
published in the April 22, 1994 issue of "DC." For ordering
information, please see item # T-156 on the "Preferred Reading and
Viewing" section page 20-21 or call 1-800-359-2289.
Dr. Michaud, apart from reading, studying, and writing, maintains a
busy practice in Newton, Massachusetts.
The lower extremities, more specifically the subtalar joint and all
its component functions, have been something of a hobby for me
these past five years. When I was asked to review this text I
awaited it with great expectation, hoping that I would not be let
down. Well suffice it to say this is one great text. Dr. Michaud
has taken the time to not only read the world literature relative
to the subject, but has mastered the ability to exercise his own
personal nonsense detector and leave the reader with what he wants
most: a clear, concise, well written text that supplies information
that the clinician can use now -- yes right now!
Anyone who has tried to read Inman's text or struggled with Root's
concepts or Hiss' paradoxical confusions will surely understand
what a gem this text is. This text is for all in chiropractic,
students and doctors alike. In fact I would suggest that it be
placed in every chiropractic college as the definitive text for the
foot and its care.
The text is divided into seven distinct chapters followed by a
comprehensive index. It provides a quick review of the applicable
anatomy with emphasis placed on function and not statics. This is
followed by gait, both normal and abnormal, with special attention
given to the treatment protocol and its subsequent management.
Chapter four is dedicated to the examination of the foot and ankle
and contains well illustrated pictures to help the reader with the
visual image that is so important when dealing with triplanar
motions. The remaining chapters provide the reader with what has
to be the finest reference for the taking of an impression when
ordering an orthotic device. Dr. Michaud has included both weight
and non-weightbearing techniques and supplies us with the rationale
of the when, why, and how to incorporate these techniques into our
daily lives and practices. You will really enjoy this book.
Innes Rating: 9
Title: Chiropractic: Early Concepts in Their Historical
Setting
Author: Pierre-Louis Gaucher-Peslherbe, DC, PhD
Publisher: National College of Chiropractic
Category: Doctor/student education
There have been articles and books written about the early days of
chiropractic. The majority of these focus on what happened to and
within chiropractic during its early years. Until now no one has
attempted to place chiropractic into a historical perspective in
regard to other events taking place in health care at the turn of
the century.
Dr. Gaucher-Peslherbe has taken great care to review D.D. Palmer's
writings and look at them in the context of accepted medical theory
of the time. A scholar himself, Dr. Gaucher-Peslherbe holds not
only a DC degree but a degree in the history of medicine. He finds
D.D. Palmer not as "an uneducated fishmonger" as critics of the day
described him, but as a man who was knowledgeable and very
conversant with the medical literature of his time. Much of D.D.'s
defense of his theories was well-founded based upon the knowledge
of the time.
Dr. Gaucher-Peslherbe also traces the history of spinal
manipulation. As most in our profession are aware, D.D. Palmer
didn't invent spinal manipulation -- the use of spinal manipulation
for the purpose of healing has been present in the history of man
from the earliest of recorded times. Palmer brought about a
re-discovery and sought to make the public aware of its presence.
This work quotes much of early literature supporting the use of
manipulation, for example, Dr. Gaucher-Peslherbe writes: "It is
summed up in E. Dailly's introduction to his article on
manipulations therapeutiques in Deschambre's Dictionnaire
Encyclopedique (1864):
'Therapeutic manipulations are of value in the treatment of all
organic systems, and indications for their use can be found in
almost all chronic illnesses. They are an important part of the
system of functional therapy, where the aim is to restore correct
function to the affected part, which enables normal physiological
processes to be resumed, and the normal form and composition of the
tissues to be restored ... For although manipulation has always
given excellent results in the treatment of disease, it is only
very recently that science has been able to explain its effects,
take possession of its techniques, and provide a theory and method
for its use.'"
There are many such examples in this book. Those who at times have
had doubts about the origins of our profession being suspect, owe
it to themselves to read this book. It becomes clear that D.D.
Palmer was not someone who merely stumbled into chiropractic, but
rather a well-read, learned individual who was able to put the
pieces together and bring the benefits of manipulation to the
attention of the public.
The only less than positive comment I feel I must make is that at
times the book becomes very academic in its presentation. This is
understandable when you realize this was the author's doctoral
dissertation and not originally written for non-academics.
Overall this is a great work and should add much to the average
chiropractor's self-esteem.
Savoie Rating: 9.5
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