Dural Connection Internet Edition    Volume 5 Number 10

PAGE 8                                  • MPI'S DYNAMIC CHIROPRACTIC •                       SEPTEMBER 1984

THE "CHALLENGE"
An Open Letter to Dr. L. John Faye
A Reponse to Dr. Koffman
This is the first in a series of open letters which I write in response to your June ’84 article in “DC” Dynamic Chiropractic.  I have chosen to write in series, as your article raises a number of issues on which I would comment.  For clarity sake, I will address those items which are of a technical nature first.

Let me precede my comments with mention of the facts that my experience with Motion Palpation dates back to 1972 when I began studying Henri Gillet’s Belgium Chiropractic Research Notes and had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Gillet at the Columbia Institute of Chiropractic for a lecture and technical demonstration.  I have followed both his, and his son’s writings and, therefore have, at least, a basic understanding of Motion Palpation which I hold to be valid.

You accuse previous paradigms to MP as irrational and I refer to your statement “One group tests muscles to check the pancreas while another feels for bumps on the occiput.”  Had you studied Dr. Goodheart’s research which documents the physiological mechanism by which his testing operates, I doubt if you would label it irrational.

Your statement regarding “feeling for bumps on the occiput” is a reductum ad absurdum and clearly demonstrates your lack of knowledge of the SOT Occipital /Trapezius Reflex System and the underlying neurophysiology of the golgi tendon system and its relationship to the aponeurosis of he cervical column, the archicerebellum, the hook bundle of Russel, Deiter’s nucleus, the spinocerebellar cord tracts, the globose and emboliform nucleus, the brachium conjunctivum and the red nucleus which controls the postural and dorsal spine.

You are apparently unaware of the neurophysiology relating to the Trapezius muscles: the only muscle innervated by a Cranial Nerve (Spinal Accessory) and its responsive relationship to excitatory impulses conveyed by Ruffini’s Spray endings at the vertebral level of involvement.

I seriously doubt that you are familiars with any of the above or you could not in good conscience, reduce 59 years of DeJarnette’s research to “feeling bumps on the occiput.”

As for your statement “others use the force of gravity and pretend there is not force used,” I sense as another “cheap shot” at SOT blocking procedures.  If you would ever attend an SOT seminar, and I urge and personally invite you to be my guest at the annual SOT Homecoming Seminar, October 25-29 in Omaha, you will be surprised to find that SOT has somehow blundered out of the Dark Ages and accepts eh Newtonian Physics concept of gravity AS A FORCE..

I admire your enthusiasm in bringing what you believe to be good to the fore of our beloved profession.  If, however, you truly advocate rational procedures then I would respectfully suggest you present your  position with arguments based on scientific, if not at the very least, thorough personal investigation of that which you denigrate.

David M. Koffman, D.C., F.I.C.S.
Chairman of the Board
Sacro Occipital Research Society International
Northampton, MA

 In your letter, you mention “Dr. Goodheart’s research which documents the physiological mechanism by which his testing operates.”  Dr. Goodheart and our own S.O.R.S.I. unfortunately do very little real bona fide research.  You both quote some research of physiological fact and you assume that must be how your method is working.  Have you ever read a double blinded study using a normal control group that shows liver sclerosis, angina and nephrosis can be diagnosed using muscle testing? His type of research is easy, prospective and a MUST before I will accept muscle testing a la Applied Kinesiology as rational.

I am very much aware of your basic S.O.T. premises.  In he fall of 1975 or 1976 I was sent by C.M.C.C. (Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College) to a participate in a 4-day S.O.T. course in Omaha, Nebraska.  This course was presented by Dr. DeJarnette and others.  At that time I had lengthy discussions with Dr. Dangerfield on the physiological basis of S.O.T.

I would ask you to send me your research on the S.O.T. Occipital/Trapezius Reflex System and how this research shows its relation to the golgi tendon system and the other mechanisms and anatomical components.  I must admit I am not aware of any research that shows the relationship to these taut fibers on the occiput and the stated sophisticated systems quoted.

I came away from my S.O.T.  course with a large thick m annual that DID NOT contain one reference nor did it show any research.  “In good conscience,” I feel after 59 years, our profession would demand proper studies from S.O.R.S.I. showing there  IS interexaminer reliability in S.O.T. diagnosis.  Can 85 out of 100 doctors pick out Category #1 patients from a mixed group?  Can 85 out of 100 doctors agree on which of the occipital fibers are taut?  Are “dollar signs” easy to recognize?  Do patient lying on the blocks opposite to formula get the same results as a group lying on them correctly?

S.O.T. has not addressed the basic simple questions science begs of it.  Quoting from physiology and anatomy texts is not proof of anything.  You may form an hypothesis of course.  You may feel it is good enough to run clinical trials.  However it is about time you put your methods to the test.  Is your analysis reliable or are people getting well for another reason?

I believe it is up to S.O.R.S.I. (the Sacro Occipital Technique Research Society International) to conduct some simple, inexpensive, orthodox research that can be published in a respected  journal, such as the J.M.P.T.  Our doctors and students deserve this minimum and I will continue to probe for the same.

I am sorry you found my curiosity and remarks denigrating.  I reply, “let the research speak for itself,” and no armchair research please.  As S.O.R.S.I.’s chairman you must expect criticism – and you must learn to respond with facts and not emotions.

The proven facts of S.O.T. will survive to be a part of chiropractic of the future.

L. John Faye, D.C., F.C.C.S.S.(c)
Chairman
Motion Palpation Institute
Ottawa, Ontario Canada

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