Dear Colleague:
The following is an update of what is
happening in the SOT world and with SOTO-USA.
Since SOTO-USA is so dynamic there
are always three things to consider: what has taken place, what is
currently happening and what is on the horizon.
This update will focus on a review of
the recent Clinical Symposium, an introduction to SOTO-USA's new
president, an overview of this past year's research efforts,
information on SOTO-USA's involvement with Tufts University and the TMD
Alliance, and Lawrence E. DeMann, Sr., DC - In Memoriam.
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The 2006 Symposium in Review
This year's symposium, like all the others, was an
educational, exciting, and entertaining interdisciplinary SOT event. We
had three tracks occurring simultaneously:
One track was a comprehensive presentation of DeJarnette SOT
categories featuring the new 2006 SOT Manual written by Robert Monk,
DC. This book will help to revolutionize SOT, being true to
DeJarnette's 1984 SOT text yet bringing SOT terminology into the 21st
century evidenced based arena along with supportive references from
peer reviewed published journals and research conferences. There was a
good teacher to student ratio for hands-on instruction.
The allied healthcare track was primarily an advanced SOT
class. Dr. Marty Rosen who is an expert in practice management helped
to share a successful SOT model that could be used for a high volume
practice as well as for a doctor who chooses to have a smaller volume
one. Dr. Rosen also presented with Dr. Charles Blum a category
transition class that helped to develop clear protocols to discern when
it is time to transition to another category and what type of treatment
should be part of that transition protocol.
As we embark on landmark dental chiropractic integration
SOTO-USA is leading the way for the chiropractic profession. Dr.
Richard Gerardo has again put together an innovative, integrative, and
investigative gathering of presenters attempting to lift the
multilayered veil of mystery away from successful dental chiropractic
co-treatment. Led by Dr. Steven Olmos, DDS who has a TMD Cotreatment
program for dentists, we had enlightening presentations by Richard
Gerardo, DC, Raymond Silkman, DDS, Jeffrey Mersky, DC, and Charles
Blum, DC.
The
2006 Symposium in Review... - For more click here
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Robert Monk, DC - President of SOTO-USA
Presidential Address
Rob Monk, DC, is one of the founding members of SOTO-USA. He
is the author of The SOT Manual 2006 and 4 other texts on SOT. A
graduate of NYCC, he has been in private practice in Briarcliff, NY
since 1987.
The goal of SOTO-USA is a simple one: to carry on the
mission of Dr. M.B. DeJarnette and serve the chiropractic community
while exploring all the possibilities of Sacro Occipital Technique.
In our short history we have made tremendous progress,
creating working relationships with other allied professions and
expanding the very borders of the chiropractic profession.
But we are fundamentally a teaching organization. With your
help, we hope to
continue to teach SOT all over the country. To that end, we've
streamlined
and standardized the teaching process. What used to take years of study
and
confusion can now be learned in just a few weekends. This includes the
other
levels of SOT as well, including three levels of Cranial Technique,
Extremity work, pediatrics, and CMRT.
To do this, we need more teachers. I urge you to become
certified. It is
only through the certification process that we can ensure the high
quality
of instruction for which we've become known.
Our ultimate goal is in the realm of research. One of the
banes of our
profession has been the difficulty in adequately measuring and
quantifying
our observations. What if we borrowed some of the technology already in
use
by the dental profession? This is just one of the many advantages
gained
through inter-disciplinary cooperation.
The year 2007 looks to be an even better one for SOTO-USA.
Our new book, The
SOT Manual 2006, is being sold in college bookstores all over the
country.
This is the first in a series of steps to help restore our presence on
college campuses and curriculum.
Need some inspiration? Our next Clinical Symposium,
scheduled for October
2007 in Nashville, promises to be our most exciting venture to date.
Instruction will include "Intra-Oral Adjusting" and "Chiropractic
Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT)."
If you don't want to wait until next October for a training,
no problem! Our
spring teaching schedule, soon to be announced, will offer several
opportunities to learn techniques regionally so you don't have to
travel
far.
One of the basic tenets of SOTO-USA is our availability and
readiness to
hear the ideas of fellow members. Our input is a mere e-mail away. Feel
free
to contact me at RM7750@bestweb.net.
Sincerely,
Robert Monk,
SOTO-USA President
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SOTO-USA - Tufts University - TMD Alliance
Interdisciplinary care is the way of the future, not just
for the chiropractic profession, but also for achieving the best
possible care for our patients and those of our allied health
practitioners. Sacro Occipital Technique Organization (SOTO) – USA is
the only chiropractic organization that is part of the American
Alliance of TMD Organizations whose other 10 members are primarily
dental related. The TMD Alliance represents approximately 17,000
members nationally who are practitioners that have expertise and
interest in the treatment of temporomandibular or craniomandibular
disorders (TMD/CMD).
This past November 2nd and 3rd SOTO-USA participated with
the TMD Alliance at a research study group at TUFTS University, School
of Dental Medicine, The Craniofacial Pain and Headache Center. Dr.
Noshir Mehta of TUFTS University led the meeting with the focus of
developing collaborative research direction amongst the various dental
organizations treating TMD. Issues of funding for studies from
NIH/NIDCR as well as determining protocols for multi-organizational
clinical research in orofacial pain and TMD were discussed.
It was fascinating from a chiropractic perspective how our
allied practitioners and researchers saw chiropractic in such a
positive light. There was understanding amongst this group that there
are ascending postural factors that can affect dental occlusion and TM
condylar position and that dental occlusion and TM condylar position
also can have a descending affect on postural factors, such as forward
head posture. Interestingly when treatment was discussed, invariably
chiropractors were part of this co-treatment model.
October 26-29th SOTO-USA had its 7th Clinical Symposium
where a dental chiropractic track assisted dentists and chiropractors
in the process of learning how to co-treat various conditions such as
forward head posture (FHP) related to postural and airway disorders.
Bridging the gaps between our professions, learning a common syntax,
and how individual limitations and strengths will be emphasized at next
year’s symposium (October 2007) in Nashville.
Dentists specializing in TMD are looking for chiropractors
with whom to refer and co-treat, but chiropractors need to learn what
is needed and how to communicate with our dental colleagues. For
instance it must be understood that there is no “magic” chiropractic
treatment that can change the actual shape of the teeth, and while
condylar position can sometimes be affected with chiropractic care it
is often temporary. On the other hand dentists want to be careful since
many of the splint or dental changes tend to be more permanent, so
prior to any splint modifications any ascending factors affecting
dental occlusion or TM condyle would preferably be minimized as much as
possible by chiropractic care. This leads to a good relationship that
ultimately has the patient’s best interest in mind, minimizing the
degree of intervention or its risk, and maximizing its possible
benefit.
The
American Alliance of TMD Organizations • click here
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Lawrence E. DeMann, Sr., DC - In Memoriam
 Lawrence E DeMann, Sr., DC, DICS passed away this past
summer in New York, succumbing to cancer of the lung weeks before his
eightieth birthday. Many of us who have been around SOT long enough,
remember Larry as a brilliant craniopath, a masterful SOT practitioner,
an excellent teacher, and a strong and dynamic leader in the field of
chiropractic.
Dr. DeMann began his career in chiropractic, receiving his
doctorate from the Chiropractic Institute of New York. His
undergraduate education began with a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences
from Bloomfield College, then on to his doctorate. Continuing his
education, he was awarded a Masters Degree in biology from Bridgeport
University. Dr. DeMann, Sr. has held a license in Florida as a
Chiropractic Physician and in New York. He has written and lectured
extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia on cranial
dysfunction and its relationship to health and disease.
Dr. DeMann was ultimately awarded Fellow and Diplomate
status from the International Craniopathic Society and Chiropractor of
the Year Award in 1974 by the Sacro Occipital Technique Research
Society International. He has in recent years been semi-retired but he
was actively practicing until illness forced him to stop. He is
survived by his four children Larry Jr, Drew, Todd, and Loriann and his
wife Gloria. Dr. DeMann was a giant in the field of SOT/Cranial as well
as in the broader field of Chiropractic. He leaves a vast living legacy
and he will be sorely missed. We are all the richer for his having been
here and the brief moments we might have been lucky enough to share
with him.
By
Dr. DeMann: Life and Emotion, Cranio-Sacral Therapy • click here
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Please stay tuned for upcoming events
to be posted on the SOTO-USA website. The website is dynamic and is
update almost daily.
Thank you for your dedication and interest,
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