McManis table

Hello,

I have heard about McManis table that are used by chiropractors for flexion-distraction therapy.
I think McManis was an osteopath.
Do you know of any osteopaths using that type of tables ?

Regards,
Sophie

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Permalink Reply by Theodore Jordan on January 26, 2012 at 3:08pm

The ATSU Museum of Osteopathic Medicine, in Kirksville, Missouri, has some Taplin inventions in their collection.

http://www.atsu.edu/museum/

Through this website, one can pay for access to many many digitalized osteopathic books & journals (Journal of Osteopathy, Western Osteopath, etc, etc, etc.) and If you look through the advertisements in those early journals, you will see Taplin's products pictured. Not many survive.

He built designed his Tapling table with attachments for straps and, I think, even a metal lever attached to one side, with a pad in it that is thrust onto the patient! You have to see it to appreciate it. The potential force of the lever arm in a thrusting mobilisation is frightening, but I hope it was designed to be used with much more finesse. I'll see if I can find a picture.

He also designed the "Taplin block" which was a small firm pyramid with a small knob on top; designed for the correction of 'dropped cuboids'. The foot was placed on top of the block, and then thrust down, 'popping' the cuboid back into place with significant force and leverage ( and probably an audible 'yelp'). Cuboid treatments were common back in the days of cruel shoes.

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Permalink Reply by danmes on January 26, 2012 at 3:48pm

Theodore! Very good picture!! Were did you find it? I'm looking for more old pictures. I would like to take a Course with Steven Funk DO. Do you have contact with Dr Funk? Thanks you!

Theodore Jordan said:

I am not an expert on the gentle, rhythmic, 'classical osteopathic approach, but I think the McManis table was specifically designed for this rhythmic articulation approach. I have one and occassionally use it in this manner, and it works great. It can also be used more aggressively.

Note that the original Mcmanis table is designed as all-purpose medical/osteopathic table: it even had gyn stirrup attachments! There is an Osteopathic physician -Dr Steven Funk, DO, in Kirksville, who was quite the expert on the history of the McManis table, and even taught a course on its history & how to use it.

I've attached an old photo of a Knee-Chest position on a McManis; Visceral manipulation used to be performed with the patient primarily in Knee-chest postition. I find it ironic that none (or few) of the visceral teachers today ever seem to utilize this position.

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Permalink Reply by Theodore Jordan on January 26, 2012 at 4:28pm

The photo either came from a mentor (who's grandmother was a student of A T Still), or the Museum or Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville. I took reproduction 35mm photos of some early photographs, years and years ago. I'm sorry, but I don't have the exact source.

The Museum or Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville is currently the best source of old photos. I haven't been an active member, but they used to have quite a few photos of AT Still online. All of their materials are available for use with their permission. They also have a great collection of early journals, as mentioned above.