From the publisher
This book has been replaced in 2016 by the new edition: Inflammation Mastery, 4th Edition ISBN: 0990620484; 978-0990620488 (1,180 pages in color, providing more than 20 hours of video access). Integrative Rheumatology is a clinically-oriented textbook that extends beyond Integrative Orthopedics to outline treatment plans for autoimmune and systemic inflammatory disorders. Since approximately 1 of every 7 (14% of total) visits to a primary healthcare provider is for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction, every physician needs to have 1) knowledge of important concepts related to musculoskeletal medicine, 2) awareness of urgent and emergency conditions, 3) skills to competently perform orthopedic examination procedures and clinical assessments, 4) ability to interpret common laboratory tests, and 5) the knowledge and ability to design and implement effective treatment plans. Integrative Rheumatology empowers students and doctors with the insight necessary for the design and implementation of truly integrative treatment plans for conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Diagnostic, therapeutic, risk reduction and patient management strategies are emphasized throughout. Students in chiropractic and naturopathic medical colleges will find Integrative Rheumatology to provide a needed blend of concepts as well as the practical how to information on patient management that is often neglected in other textbooks or which can only be obtained after years of clinical experience. This book will help you synthesize your courses in physical examination, manipulation, physiotherapy, nutrition, botanical medicine, neurology and therapeutic exercise into a cohesive set of skills that enables you to effectively help your patients overcome their musculoskeletal problems while you simultaneously promote wellness by looking at the bigger picture of their overall health rather than simply focusing on the problem. Integrative Rheumatology provides the information and citations to the research literature that you need in order to feel confident about your skills and the responsibilities that you will face as a healthcare provider. Clinicians of all disciplines whether ND, DC, DO, Lac, MD, PA, or NP will find the blend of research and clinical pearls helpful in their integrative management of patients with systemic autoimmune and rheumatic disorders. The text is abundantly referenced to textbooks and peer-reviewed biomedical journals. Integrative Rheumatology will give you a clinical advantage and the research justification to help treat your patients in the most natural, safe, and holistic means possible. Accessing the website provides links to updates and recently published articles by Dr. Vasquez. Update 2014: This book has been replaced by "Integrative Rheumatology and Inflammation Mastery: Third Edition".
About the author
About the Presenter and Author: Dr Alex Vasquez holds three doctoral degrees as a graduate of University of Western States (Doctor of Chiropractic, 1996), Bastyr University (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, 1999), and University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 2010). Dr Vasquez is the author of many textbooks, including Integrative Orthopedics (2012), Integrative Rheumatology (2014), Musculoskeletal Pain: Expanded Clinical Strategies (published by the Institute for Functional Medicine, 2008), Chiropractic and Naturopathic Mastery of Common Clinical Disorders (2009), Integrative Medicine and Functional Medicine for Chronic Hypertension (2011), Fibromyalgia in a Nutshell (2012), Migraine Headaches, Hypothyroidism, and Fibromyalgia (2012), and Mitochondrial Nutrition and Mitochondrial Medicine for Primary Care Conditions (2014). "DrV" has also written more than 100 letters and articles for professional magazines and medical journals such as British Medical Journal (BMJ), TheLancet.com, Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, Integrative Medicine, and Arthritis & Rheumatism-the Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology. Dr Vasquez lectures worldwide to healthcare professionals and provides expert consultations to physicians and patients internationally. Dr Vasquez is the Chief Editor of International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine (Int J Hum Nutr Funct Med .ORG), and he helps moderate the "nutrition and functional medicine forum" at NutritionAndFunctionalMedicine.org/edu. A description of Dr Vasquez's other projects, books, audios, and videos is updated at his website InflammationMastery.com with patient consultation information located at HealGrowThriveMedicine.com. All of DrV's books are available on Amazon.com with videos at Vimeo.com/DrVasquez and audio recordings of lectures at iTunes. Interested readers should be aware that all of Dr Vasquez's books are currently being reformatted and updated for full-color printing with presentation slides and accompanying videos starting with Functional Inflammology Volume 1 in 2014; see FunctionalInflammology.com.
