UK: The Society of Orthopaedic Medicine (SOM) promotes the theory and practice of its eponymous specialty. Its annual conference will be held this Saturday in Manchester and will feature a number of esteemed speakers from surgery to physiotherapy. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Shoulders above the rest” and will comprise practical breakout sessions throughout the day.
According to the organisation’s website, SOM defines Orthopaedic medicine as the examination, diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical lesions of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopaedic medicine began in 1929 when Dr James Cyriax observed a number of patients where the diagnosis was vague and the treatment non-specific. There appeared to be no satisfactory method for testing the function of soft tissues to achieve a clinical diagnosis. He developed a system of assessment aiming to accurately diagnose lesions of the musculoskeletal system and a non-surgical method of treatment for soft tissue lesions.
Dr Cyriax based his work on the following principles:
- All pain has a source
- All treatment must reach the source
- All treatment must benefit the lesion
Since the approach was formulated by Dr Cyriax, it has undergone constant development and re-appraisal in the light of current research.
The Society continues to be invited to run courses both nationally and internationally with a team of experienced teachers. Doctors and physiotherapists come together to learn this approach and the Society continues to grow with an ever increasing demand for courses.
Source: Society of Orthopaedic Medicine
published: March 5, 2012 in: Congresses and Meetings, Orthopaedics