Orthopaedic Seminar Institute

Irish Society of Orthopaedic Medicine ISOM

Trident House,
Dublin Road,
Naas,
Co Kildare,
Ireland
Email: gillian@isom.ie
Tel: 085 7122000

The Irish Society of Orthopaedic Medicine was formed in 1978 to develop the work of Dr. James Cyriax and to promote the theory and practice of orthopaedic medicine. Membership is open to medical doctors and chartered physiotherapists.

Orthopaedic medicine is 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.

He 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 run courses with a team of experienced teachers. Doctors and chartered physiotherapists come together to learn this approach and the Society continues to grow with an ever increasing demand for courses.

An annual update is held in the autumn to enable current and past student to maintain contact with the Society.