Chiropractic Books

A BOOK REVIEW by Richard H. Tyler, DC former associate editor, Dynamic Chiropractic

HOW TO AVOID BACK SURGERY CHIROPRACTIC...THE PROVEN METHOD FOR BACK PAIN by J.C. Smith, DC 1800-336-2013

Most patients come to our respective offices with the express purpose of relieving either neck or low back pain. Everything else is incidental. While spinal adjustments and other conservative methods often have a salubrious effect upon the welfare of the entire physiology of the patient--it's the pain that drives them into most chiropractic offices. There are always those who really don't plan to get well. Not too long ago a patient came to me with a low back problem. Nothing unusual. He would come in only when he felt he needed to. No maintenance for him--just adjust as needed. No amount of reasoning could change his mind. I was thinking of releasing him from further care but he beat me to it. He informed me that he had decided on surgery for his low back. It seemed that some greedy surgeon decided he could make some extra money by letting a little blood fly. In the meantime the patient went along with the idea because it offered him a way to get on permanent disability. Mind you--there was nothing seriously wrong with his back. To see him you would never guess he was feeling any pain. And he was sure that a little carving would assure him a ticket to a seat in the rocking chair with a beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other. Unfortunately, he didn't know--or want to know--the dismal record of failed back surgery. How sad it is that a profession with our historic record of success with low back pain has little more than some pamphlets to do the majority of education of our patients. When it becomes a question of educating the public about surgical options something more comprehensive is needed. Perhaps I should say at this point "was" needed. Dr. J.C. Smith is probably one of the chiropractic profession's most articulate communicators. He has the wonderful gift to write in such a way that it becomes almost conversational so that the reader doesn't feel that he or she is getting a lecture while being informed. The only fault I find is that he should have written How to Avoid Back Surgery a long time ago. The book is in soft cover and is only 130 pages. In other words, there isn't any wasted verbiage --it's just hard hitting facts that both the patient and the doctor can learn from. In its five chapters Dr. Smith covers how to avoid surgery, decision making, risks, research and answers. Each chapter is fully referenced and a bibliography is supplied. At one point the author alludes to the fact that the U.S. has three times as many operations for disc problems as in Canada and nine times as many as in Europe. Are we that much more susceptible to spinal problems--or are our surgeons that much greedier? This book gives the reader the information to answer that question and much more. With some--for whatever the reason--they choose surgery but for the vast majority they would do almost anything to keep from going under the knife and J.C. Smith's latest effort to educate the public gives them the information they need to justify their choice for conservative alternatives. J.C. Smith is a brilliant essayist and educator and How to Avoid Back Surgery is an excellent example of his technique and style. Certainly another jewel in his treasure chest of shared knowledge. Get the book for yourself and for your patients and everyone will benefit.

This book focuses on osteopathy as practiced in Europe, and will be helpfull for students in learning how to assess the patient. It gives clear guidelines on safety, which is of primary importance when dealing with patients.

The book gives regional approaches, and focuses less on body unity (which is a difficult subject). The spinal- and pelvic mechaniscs, especially as given by Littlejohn, Fryette, Wernham and Mitchell recieves little attention, which I think is fundamental in approaching the total patient.

The book is recommended, and the authors are congratulated for filling in a gap in the osteo-pathic litterature.

Osteopathic Medicine: A Reformation in Progress is a long overdue reference for those seeking accurate information about the history and development of the ostoepathic medical profession. It concisely reviews the historical foundations and evolution of osteopathic medicine from a frontier-based medical sect to a full-fledged social movement in American health care.

In a well-written and engaging style, the authors provide the reader with a critical appraisal of where the osteopathic medical profession has been, its past achievements and current challenges, as well as a clear course for its future development. It also explores the dimensions of osteopathic medical education and practice that distinguish DOs from their MD counterparts. The authors review the philosophical foundations that drive the unique osteopathic approach to patient care as well as a critical appraisal of efforts to incorporate osteopathic principles and practice into the broader infrastructure and science of total health care management.

This is book is highly recommended reading for all pre-medical students considering a career in osteopathic medicine, current osteopathic medical students and residents, as well as practicing physicians, and interested lay people. This book will also be of particular interest to medical educators and public health policy-makers who work to further refine and develop a health care system that is compassionate, accessible, evidence-based, integrative, and technologically advanced.

The main thing I like about this book is the illustrations. They make the concepts presented more accessible and easier to recall. However, I haven't used the book as much as I thought I would.

Dr. Bruce Vaughan, former president of the World Federation
of Chiropractic, has written a first-person account
of chiropractors' struggle for survival, legitimacy and licensure
in the former British Crown Colony of Hong
Kong. A graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic
in 1966, he has practiced in this capitalist outpost in China
ever since. The founding president of the then threeman
Hong Kong Chiropractic Association, his career has
involved a continuing confrontation with an entrenched,
multi-tentacled bureaucracy dominated by political medicine.
For those who know about chiropractors' quest for
licensure in the United States, the thrusts and parries will
be all too familiar: disputes over title (should chiropractors
be called "doctors"?), resistance to referral, the arrogance
of medical gatekeepers, social ostracism and the
insult of boldface lies, confrontation in person and in
print, arrests on various dubious charges, and endless political
lobbying for legal recognition.
The opening chapter recounts the legislative session
wherein the colony's chiropractors finally secured legal
recognition, this after decades of opposition from an entrenched
allopathic establishment. The account then
backtracks to earlier times: Vaughan's youth (he's lived
in England, South America and elsewhere), first encounter
with chiropractic, his training at Davenport, Iowa, and
his return to Hong Kong to establish his practice and the
small, local professional society. Dr. Vaughan's practicebuilding
coincided with his early political education.
There were peaks and valleys, some the result of the colony's
crises and tribulations and others the product of a
medical domination of health care that in some respects
more closely mimicked the American than the British experience.
However, the flavor is ultimately unique, as is
Hong Kong, and the young chiropractor's crusade embedded
him in various elements of the culture: government
and its bureaucracies, the media, local merchants
and the courts. As has so often been the case in chirohistory,
patience and perseverance would pay off, although
this is not so clear to the swimmer struggling upstream.
The influence of international organizations and events
is related in sections dealing with the New Zealand Commission
of Inquiry, the flicker of free speech in Peking's
Tienanmen Square, the World Federation of Chiropractic's
visit to Hong Kong, and the transfer of authority
over the colony from Britain to China. Vaughan skillfully
pulls this all together, and helps us to understand how the
individual threads weave through the broader tapestry. As
he suggests, the chiropractors' experience in Hong Kong
offers an "accelerated version" of the profession's journey
through the last century: a microcosm of the broader
chiropractic yarn.
What may come as a surprise to insular American DCs
is that much of this saga unfolds after 1974, when Louisiana
became the last state to authorize the practice of chiropractic.
What makes this book special is Bruce
Vaughan's skill as a raconteur. Written in a very readerfriendly
style, Dr. Vaughan tells us enough about himself
to make his professional crusade vivid and understandable.
He spices the text with anecdotes and perspectives
that carry the reader along willingly through drudgery
and crisis. Vaughan balances the frustration inherent in
this tale with a frequently dry and subtle humor that hints
at his British roots.
The book is interesting also for the glimpses it offers
of Hong Kong and its evolution during the past 35 years.
Chiropractors and historians will value this work for its
detail and documentation of the quest for legitimacy in
this little bit of England in Asia. Offered in paperback at
very modest price, one can't go wrong: a good read.
Joseph C. Keating, Jr., PhD
Phoenix, Arizona Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.

Urogenital manipulation is a must have text which allows review of procedure by region. i.e. bladder, uterus & vagina, ovaries & uterine tubes. Illustrations are line drawings covering the majority of manipulations discussed. Text also covers topics on patient ethics.

First off, Dr. Holmquist states several times in this handbook that he isn't liable for any injury, etc. He advises you to be very, very careful when practicing chiro techniques. He admits that a book isn't the best venue to convey chiro techniques, which is why the VHS tape is available.

Having said that, this book is [unfortunately] the only thing on the market available for public consumption.

His anatomical diagrams are poorly drawn, but get the point across. His demonstrative photographs are much better. His narratives are straightforward, if a bit bias and preachy.

If you or your family suffer from back problems and cannot afford to see a chiro regularly, then this book may be for you. I would highly, highly suggest buying the accompanying VHS tape, though. The book isn't enough by itself.

Karl Holmquist is an experienced and professional chiropractor who has compiled an instruction manual on the chiropractic principle in correcting the spine in your own home. Profusely illustrated, comprehensive, practical, offering step-by-step lessons, making it a thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide, the "Home Chiropractic Handbook" is ideal for the non-specialist general reader and will hold immense interest for anyone curious about the chiropractic approach to health and medicine. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library Alternative Medicine reference collections is Holmquist's instructional DVD, Home Chiropractic (093508102X, $49.95).

First, let me just mention this books saved my job. As a computer programmer I found my wrists becoming worse and worse over time. I scheduled my routine chiropractic visits for awhile, but soon, I found my funds were running dry. On top of this, my wife was suffering at her work due to back pains. Since we could not afford routine chiropractic visits and needed to do something, we decided to give this book a try.

Today, I am back to work with almost no pain in my wrists. My wife can sit at work the entire day without suffering back pains. We find that the chiropractic visits are not enough for routine maintenance. We require adjustments several times per week. We cannot afford this. At the same time I am exercising to strengthen the muscles. Eventually, I am certain things will stay in place. We have decided that in the more serious cases we will see the chiropractor. But for routine maintenance (which we would not see the chiropractor for anyway), we will do it ourselves.

Do NOT listen to the "chirobabble" being spit out in the negative reviews. The techniques are simple and have had no negative affects on us. I believe we would have to try real hard to mess them up. The only people it hurts are the chiropractors, as they receive less visits from us.

In most States a Chiropractor needs an undergraduate degree in Biology or some other science, then graduate studies at an accredited Chiropractic School. The idea that someone can make a specific adjustment at home is insane. Just wait for the first person who breaks a neck or ribs- Mr. Karl there is itchin' for a lawsuit. What's next "Do-it-yourself" gall bladder removal... we all have a knife and a needle and thread. How bout getting your stomach stapled... all you need is a knife and a stapler!!!

I have been seeing chiropractors for 20 years now. Between my insurance company and I many thousands have been spent. Immediatly after an accident a chiro is needed. Once you are in the 'maintenance' mode they are NOT needed. This books shows you the simple maintenance manipulations that are safe and easy, including the ones on the neck. You must buy the video that supplants this book. I live in Alaska where a simple 2 second treatment costs $50. What a racket! Stop being a cash cow and take control of your spinal maintenance and buy this book! You don't see a doctor for a simple headache? Why see a chiropractor for a simple adjustment? I adjust my brother and my wife and they adjust me. We have been doing the maintenance adjustments following the methods of this book for 8 years now and feel fantastic.

First Aid for the Comlex is a must have for all three steps.
It is not a full review of the whole exam but a wonderful review of OMM.
With all of the different colleges teaching different techniques it was great to have a standardized book for the exams.
Much more precious than the "Green Book".
Great to see the comlex is starting to have review books like the USMLE has had for years.
Great Job!

Love the essential anatomy and step by step sacral diagnosis reviews. I'd recommend this to all incoming first year osteopathic medical students. It's a COMLEX necessity!

This book provides an excellent explanation of osteopathic manipulation. It succinctly describes osteopathic diagnosis and treatment techniques. Also, it has a great review of orthopaedic tests. This is a must have if you want to review OMM.

I ordered this book and, according to the picture and the description, I thought that I was getting a general review book for the COMLEX. Instead, I was shipped the First Aid OMM review book and I called Customer Service. I was assured I was getting a new, correct order - nope, I got the same OMM review book. So unless you want an OMM review, do not order this book despite what the description says! The advertising on this item is completely untrue and now I have two books that I have to send back!

I was expecting a lot more from this. I would have organized it differently and made it easier to use. In the end I didn't hardly use it and just went over my class OMM notes because they were by far better.

This is a great book! I love the way the author takes the Medical Profession's OWN RESEARCH and shares it with the reader. It's right there in black and white. The lies that have been put out by the MD's is horrendous. Now you can see for yourself what "their" research shows. Drugs kill (pushed or prescribed)

This book is a tremendous resource for those who are looking to build a case against medicine. Each "attack" on medicine is followed by a "source". What this means is that the book is laid out as a series of short (one page or so) "attacks" on medicine; each followed by a footnote detailing the source of the information presented. As I said before, this book is a fantastic source of information. It contains chapters on many aspects of medicine, from infant care to elderly care, from drug marketing to surgery. The problem with the book is the delivery. I suppose that it would be difficult to approach this subject without feeling somewhat cynical, particularly after reading so much negative research on modern medicine. However, I feel that Dr. Rondberg's "voice" is cynical and sarcastic. It reminded me of Dr. Stephen Barrett (the self proclaimed "quack-buster"). Dr. Rondberg would have held more credibility with me if he had approached this difficult subject with more care in his use of language.

The newspapers love to have stories about the latest medical "miracle," but they never tell us about *these* research reports -- from medical journals like the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England Medical Journal, etc.

Reading this book opens your eyes to what's really going on in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. It's scary stuff, but everyone should read it before they take another pill, step into another M.D.'s office, have their kids vaccinated, or agree to surgery or medical treatment. At least you'll know what you're getting yourself into.

What struck me about this book is that it showed how medical scientists themselves have studied problems within the health care system. That is, it doesn't take investigative reporters or govt commissions to find problems in the delivery of medical care to Americans because the doctors themselves are very much concerned about and actively engaged in the study of and efforts to address the problems. You sure don't see "alternative medicine" promoters worried about the fraud that goes on in their business. Of course, if the "CAM" people got rid of the fraud in their line of work they would all be *out* of work!

I have read many books criticizing Western medicine. All related authors convey the same information. The ethics and efficacy of Western medicine are bankrupt. Unless you broke a leg, don't go to your doctor. Don't submit yourself to inaccurate cancer screening with painful follow up procedures. Don't take prescription drugs that hurt you. Don't get flu vaccines. They don't work that well.

Terry Rondberg is the most ineffective messenger because of his lack of credibility. The book starts with a set of definitions related to chiropractic. This creates a confusion on whether this book is a criticism of Western medicine or an advocacy pamphlet for chiropractic. This impression is reinforced by the reviewers on the back cover who are mainly chiropractors or spinal health doctors.

Besides the author's lack of credibility, the book suffers from structural flaws. There is no index at the end for easy reference. The topics covered are inconsistent with the chapter classification. The case against Aspirin is covered several times at random. Other topics are also duplicated. The repetitions make the author more of a pre-blog screamer than a serious medical analyst.

There are far better books covering the exact same topic. I recommend the following ones. Lynne McTaggart, a medical journalist wrote "What Doctors Don't Tell You" in 1996. Her research is so thorough that it is still current a decade later. Nortin Hadler M.D. wrote "The Last Well Person" in 2004. Both these books include indexes for easy reference. They also have extensive references sections with far more support for any of their arguments vs Rondberg.

The difference in the three books is captured by the quality of the publishers. Lynne McTaggart book was published by Avon Books a division of Harper Collins. Hadler's book was published by McGill-Quenn's University Press. Rondberg book was published by The Chiropractic Journal founded by Rondberg himself. While two authors had to submit their work to the high standards of world class publishers and editors, Rondberg wrote his own book on a rampage with no editorial input.

This book (2nd edition) is quite comprehensive and largely covers all issues relating to its title. Personally I found the book very informative and a great guide to the field it is intended to cover. Anyone wanting to learn more about the field of studies it addresses should most definitely have read this book. Clearly the author/s are well versed with the subject matter, as is evident from the interrelated subject matter diversity of the book. Surprisingly, considering the volume, the manner in which it is compiled and written makes for somewhat easy reading.

The New England Journal of Medicine wrote a review of the first edition of this book. Here are a few quotes: "Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries is an ambitious book with multiple objectives aimed at multiple audiences with various levels of background knowledge."

"The author has developed a thoughtful, practical guide for physicians in private practice for ranking the severity of neck and back injuries. He describes a fairly detailed physical examination for head injuries and provides a comprehensive discussion of multiple syndromes after trauma to various parts of the body."

This book is a second edition and about twice the size of the first. It is well researched and authored by a dozen or so health care providers and other experts. Provides useful information to use in the clinical and legal settings.

This book is a good summary of the available literature for biomechanics accident reconstruction. Where the reviewed literature is often used by defense experts, the author takes personal criticism at the defense experts for using this literature in assessing injury potential. This is done quite often to a point where it is rediculous and quite defamatory. It is obvious from this book that the author has aligned himself with the plaintiff side of low speed collision analysis. I would not recommend this book if your looking for literature on this matter which is impartial.