SOT Quarterly Research Update

The SOT Quarterly Research Update is a service offered by SOTO-USA to keep doctors who are familiar with sacro occipital technique (SOT) aware of the latest research related events, papers, and concepts affecting our practices. Please contact me directly at drcblum@aol.com if you are aware of others who might be interested in receiving this quarterly newsletter.

Please don't miss SOTO-USA's 7th Annual CLINICAL SYMPOSIUM, October 26-29th, 2006, in St. Louis, Missouri at the Hyatt Regency - Union Station. Reserve a room now through September 20, 2006 for special rates.

The discount rate for early registration to the symposium is until September 15, 2006 - so sign up NOW and save! Click on the picture above or just go to www.SOTO-USA.org to begin the process of registration.

The theme of this research update will be related to the sacroiliac joint and category two (sacroiliac joint hypermobiity syndrome).

Cranial-pelvic relationship I
Thompson JE, Unger J

Introduction: A reciprocal functioning relationship between the cranium and the pelvis has been theorized by several authors. The purpose of this study was to explore this relationship using sacro occipital technique (SOT).

Design: Twenty experimental and twenty control subjects were used. Each test subject had their cranium measured from the nasion to the lateral most temporal bone bilaterally. Then they were treated using SOT orthopedic blocks through the category II pelvic treatment.

Results: The mean change in the experimental group was 2.3mm +/-1.6 and in the control group was 1.8mm +/- 0.98. The overall range of change in the experimental group was 0-5mm and in the control group was 0-5mm.

Conclusion: The statistical analysis of this study suggest that there may be a relationship between cranial distortions, pelvic torsion, and treatment with SOT pelvic blocks in the supine position.

Logan College of Chiropractic, Continues Proceedings of the Logan College Student Research Symposium. No. 75 of the December 1998 class with binder's title: Senior Research Projects, Vol. IV, Nos. 65-84

Cranial-pelvic relationship II
Recupero MJ, Gravel M, LaGarce B, Carnevale K, Atherton W

Introduction: Dr. MB DeJarnette, founder of sacro occipital technique (SOT) has postulated a relationship between cranial motion and the pelvis. The goal of this study is to further investigate a prior pilot study that suggested a statistical relationship between affects to the pelvis and their subsequent relationship to the cranium.

Design: Forty students from Logan College of Chiropractic were separated into test and control groups. In the test group, cranial width measurements were taken prior to, and after receiving SOT blocking for a category II pelvic lesion. The control group was asked to walk in between measurements, and received no treatment.

Results: Changes were recorded as the overall differences between measurements when the right and left widths were summated pre and post treatment. The mean change in the test group was 2.5mm +/- 1.43 and 1.4mm +/- in the control.

Conclusion: There appears to be statistical change in cranial measurements in the experimental group as compared to the control subjects, however it is unclear if this change is statistically significant. Further studies are necessary to explore the changes observed, and the mechanism by which they occur.

Senior Research Project, Logan College of Chiropractic, Continues Proceedings of the Logan College Student Research Symposium. No. 14 of the April 1999 class with binder's title: Senior Research Projects, Vol. I, Nos. 1-26.

Pelvic muscles influence the sacroiliac joint
Tichy M, Malbohan IM, Otahal M, Chalupova M

Textbooks of human anatomy describe no muscle as having an effect of moving the sacroiliac joint (SI joint). However, our clinical experience has suggested that functional disorders of the joint may be affected by shortening of some of the pelvic muscles.

We therefore carried out two studies. First, we studied the relative positions of four anatomical points, the spinous processes of L3 and Sl and the two posterior superior iliac spines, and of their position relative to the body axis. The moiré shadow method was used to detect changes in the position of these points after postisometric relaxation (PIR) of the pelvic floor muscles per rectum. The first study showed that spasm of the muscles of the pelvic floor is associated with movement in the position of the sacrum to the side of greater spasm and with abnormal posture in the lumbosacral region.

The second study comprised cases with uni- or bilateral SI joint blockade. These cases were treated by a sequence of PIR, first of the psoas major muscle, and then of the pelvic floor muscles. This second study showed the association of shortening of both the psoas major and the pelvic floor muscles with blocking of the SI joint.

We propose that a functional chain exists between these three structures - the pelvic floor muscles in spasm, the sacroiliac joint, and the shortening of the psoas major muscle.

This study helps support SOT's treatment of the SI joint and the need to evaluate and treat iliopsoas related imbalance. As this functional kinematic chain gets further explored we might notice if the psoas muscle imbalance causes SI dysfunction or is a result of SI imbalance and increased joint nociception or pain.

Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine. 1999; 21(1): 3-5.

An electrophysiologic study of mechanoreceptors in the sacroiliac joint and adjacent tissues.
Sakamoto N, Yamashita T, Takebayashi T, Sekine M, Ishii S

The somatosensory afferent units in the sacroiliac joint of an animal (cat) model were investigated using an electrophysiologic technique.

The current study showed that most of the units in the cat sacroiliac joint were high-threshold group III units that perhaps had a nociceptive function. This result suggests that the sacroiliac joint may be a source of lower back pain in humans. This study also showed that the sacroiliac joint has little proprioceptive

Further study will need to investigate whether proprioception would be different in a bipedal mammal as compared to a quadruped and if this is determinant of joint proprioceptive.

Spine. 2001 Oct 15;26(20):E468-71. - click here

The morphology and biomechanics of latissimus dorsi.
Bogduk N, Johnson G, Spalding D.

To determine the morphology of the latissimus dorsi in order to assess its actions on the shoulder, the lumbar spine and the sacroiliac joint. A dissection study accompanied by an analysis of the force vectors of the muscle and its parts (N=5) was performed.

The maximum total force exerted by the latissimus dorsi on the shoulder was estimated to range between 162 and 529 N, but in view of the attachments of the muscle, only a portion of that force can be exerted on the lumbar spine. The maximum extensor moment exerted on the lumbar spine was calculated to be 6.3 N m. The maximum force exerted across the sacroiliac joint was calculated to be 30 N.

The latissimus dorsi is designed to move the upper limb or to raise the entire trunk in brachiation. Its possible contribution to extension of the lumbar spine is trivial as is its capacity to brace the sacroiliac joint.

While this study clearly shows that greater force is transmitted into the shoulder as compared to the lumbosacral region. Greater force appears to be exerted across the sacroiliac joint compared to the lumbar spine. Further study is necessary to determine whether SOT's arm fossa test is testing an unstable sacroiliac joint that cannot withstand the 30 N, exerted by the latissimus dorsi on contraction.

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 1998 Sep;13(6):377-385. - click here

Provocative sacroiliac joint maneuvers and sacroiliac joint block are unreliable for diagnosing sacroiliac joint pain.
Berthelot JM, Labat JJ, Le Goff B, Gouin F, Maugars Y

Mapping studies of pain elicited by injections into the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) suggest that sacroiliac joint syndrome (SIJS) may manifest as low back pain, sciatica, or trochanteric pain.

The limitations of provocative maneuvers and SIJ blocks may stem in part from a contribution of extraarticular ligaments to the genesis of pain believed to originate within the SIJs. These ligaments include the expansion of the iliolumbar ligaments, the dorsal and ventral sacroiliac ligaments, the sacrospinous ligaments, and the sacrotuberous ligaments (sacroiliac joint lato-sensu). They play a role in locking or in allowing motion of the SIJs.

This study appears to discuss the role of the SI ligaments as a pain generator as well as their function or dysfunction as a means to allowing motion (category two) or locking (category one) motion in the joint.

Joint Bone Spine. 2006 Jan;73(1):17-23 - click here

Dentists are looking for SOT chiropractors ...
Do you understand what they need and expect?

This year's symposium will be an extremely valuable one for chiropractors wanting to expand their referral base. Dentists are looking specifically for SOT chiropractors, based on the work of SOTO-USA in the dental community and our participation in the TMD Alliance.

Aside from a state of the art SOT category program that brings SOT into the 21st century, we will be having advanced category transitions and other related SOT techniques. However our dental chiropractic integrative program will really prepare any chiropractor for the beginning steps of working with dentists and patients with TMD. There is no other program like this anywhere and SOTO-USA is leading the way.

Be a part of something exciting and something new! See you in St. Louis!

Sacro Occipital Technique Organization - USA is a non-profit, professional organization formed to promote the awareness, understanding and utilization of the Sacro Occipital Technique method of chiropractic as founded and developed by Dr. Major Bertrand DeJarnette. Future research updates will include information regarding research conference highlights, recent SOT related articles published in our peer review literature, and any other pertinent information for those interested in SOT and patient healthcare.

Look forward to seeing you in St. Louis for this year's Clinical Symposium it will be a great opportunity learn the essence of SOT or advance your SOT training with integrative classes. For those interested in working with the dental profession treating TMD then this symposium will be leading the way. Please support SOTO-USA, please attend the symposium.

Thank you for your dedication and interest

Charles Blum, DC

Sacro Occipital Technique Organization - USA

email: drcblum@aol.com

phone: 310-392-9795

web: http://www.soto-usa.org/