Last year saw the introduction of the subluxation neurology (SN) module of MPI's regular postgraduate courses. This course, taught by Dr. Seaman and myself, was given twice, once in Chicago and once in Toronto, with attendance of well over 100 doctors and students at each seminar. This program will be presented in a number of different cities throughout 1996.
Last year was also witness to two very significant events within the MPI mission and goal statements: (1) MPI has presented its postgraduate courses to more than 12,000 doctors and students of chiropractic, or approximately one-fourth of the chiropractic profession. (2) On October 23, 1995, MPI announced its Chiropractic Neurology Diplomate program. This program will start in Chicago (February 10-11, 1996) and will be taught by a wide variety of doctors from various disciplines, with the culminating event being a doctor of chiropractic well versed in the art and science of what D.D. Palmer referred to as the cause of subluxation: trauma, toxins, and auto suggestion.
This year will be an equally exciting year for MPI. All MPI courses have new notes with pictures of every procedure demonstrated, alleviating attendees from taking as many notes, and there is a plethora of new information contained within the lecture portion of all courses. The focus of the S1 course will be the movement of the sacroiliac joint, the iliosacral joint and the lumbosacral junction. In anticipation of someone jumping up and down and telling me that I have mentioned the same joint twice, allow me state that anatomically the S/I and the I/S joints are in fact the same articulation, however, that is where the similarities end. The movement of the sacroiliac joints are far more complex and involve or are a consequence of the gait cycle. MPI will introduce in 1996 new ways to palpate, examine, and differentially diagnose pelvic complex subluxations, and will provide many references from all over the globe on where the attendees can get more detailed information on this subject. Along with new procedures comes new adjustments to address the various axes of motion that the sacrum can be subluxated upon. It is a very interesting point that these subluxations are not visible on x-ray and that the entire musculoskeletal system does in fact have significant impact on the pelvic complex function. Who says so? The current research status of this area and authors from all over the world say so! MPI is committed to bringing this information to students and doctors of chiropractic, so that when we the profession are asked to be accountable for our treatment and diagnosis we can and will be able to describe the normal function of, for example, the pelvic complex and justify our treatment procedures whatever they may be.
Motion palpation will continue to be a diagnostic procedure and not a technique. The Motion Palpation Institute will be continually updating and modifying its course material to reflect the current state of the art. For example, coupled motions of the spine and pelvic complex will be palpated and joint played, as these are the innate motions of the human body. Those doctors and students who have not been to an MPI course for many years will be startled at the complexity and clinical implications of the recent program. There has been a significant shift from the "old" MPI to the "current" MPI. MPI will in 1996 continue to contribute funds to the various research institutions and groups within or about the chiropractic profession, as the database of supportive information needs to be much bigger.
Last year was a great year and 1996 will be even better! Look for many new continuing education programs to be announced for 1996 and 1997.
Keith Innes, DC
Ontario, Canada