Society of Orthopaedic Medicine SOM

Society of Orthopaedic Medicine SOM

Address for correspondence:

SOM, PO Box 204
Woolton, L25 7WA

The Society of Orthopaedic Medicine was formed in 1979 to develop the work of Dr James Cyriax and to promote the theory and practice of orthopaedic medicine. Membership consists of approximately 1700 doctors and 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