What is Specific Adjusting Technique?

Specific Adjusting Technique (written by Gez Lamb)

Specific Adjustment Technique started in the 1950’s by Parnall Bradbury and was developed by Tom Dummer into a sublime mixture of structural and functional technique. It relies on the ability to diagnose and adjust the segment of the spine that holds the key to the resolution of the spinal pattern. Then by a short series of treatments, adjusting only one segment per treatment, the mechanics of the spine (and therefore the balance of the whole body) is brought into functional harmony.

The performance of the technique requires a blend of art and science in order to appeal to the inherent intelligence in the body to bring forward the ideal response to each treatment. What is held in the mind of the osteopath at the moment of the mobilisation is as important as the act of mobilising. The response is not merely mechanical but digs deep into the history of the somatic dysfunction and clears the emotions as much as the physical restrictions.

Traumatically induced ‘lesions’ are effectively neutralised, especially those in the upper neck and the pelvic basin. The concept of ‘floating-field’ adjustment is the only way to effectively resolve such lesions and the technique is Tom Dummer’s gift to the osteopathic profession.

It has been found by practitioners of this art that the body’s response to specific adjustment of the right segment, at the right time, and in the right manner, produces deeply satisfying results for both patient and practitioner. The results are lasting and beneficial on all levels of function and allows the natural healing mechanisms to find optimum expression.

OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAINING OF S.A.T. 1,2 AND 3:

During this training, you will be guided to a more intense palpation, an enlargement of the sensitivity of the practitioner on several levels, fields and to a mode of observation varying from the largest to the most specific. In addition, several workshops will aim to develop your kinesthetic skills according to a particular progression in the deepening of a work of precision as much structural as functional. So you can refine your adjustments with greater ease and safety for the patient. You will develop effective tools to assess lesions with greater ease and highlight treatment priorities. You will be propelled into the art of parameter control for effective multilevel resolution.The philosophy of the specific adjustments takes into account the quality of all the tissues, the bio-dynamic force, the postural equilibrium and the whole person in its physical, emotional and spiritual entirety. The 3 courses proposed a complete SAT training. This training will allow you to explore and intervene on all the dimensions of osteopathy both in terms of mobility and that of fine motility. It is a unique training that comes from a traditional source of osteopathy and has continued to evolve over the last 50 years from clinical experience.This training includes a large proportion of supervised practice. Participants will be guided through a pal-patory progression using educational and various exercises. This type of teaching will also allow you to develop your skills (knowing how to do) with a free spirit (knowing how to be). Several hands-on work-shops will be presented in the form of problem solving and cooperative learning.

CONCEPTS AND NOTIONS:

• History of S.A.T. • Concepts and theories of Littlejohn D.O. • Minimal treatment • Primary vs priority • Analysis and interpretation of the hip drop test • Diagnostic assessments routines • Sacral, lumbar, dorsal, cervical, etc. treatments. • Positional lesion, trauma, whiplash • Tissues fields and tissues dialogue • Adjustment in the floating field • Densities, fields and levels.

ABOUT THE TEACHERS:

“Gez” Lamb graduated from the ESO in Maidstone in 1982, having studied under John Wernham, Tom Dummer, Robert Lever, Harold Klug and Mervyn Waldman in an era when osteopathy was taught in small groups with intense individual tuition from those teachers who were only half a step removed from Martin Littlejohn and therefore to Still himself.

Upon graduation, Gez was invited to join Tom Dummer’s practice. Tom was the principal of the ESO and the world’s foremost exponent of SAT, and so Gez was exposed to early influences that shaped his understanding of how to deepen the healing response by using the most functional approach to bony manipulation.

He has taught a kaleidoscope of subjects to 28 generations of osteopathic students but now continues to teach SAT and PRM techniques to graduates since retiring from under-graduate teaching at the ESO in 2011.

He has taught through the tears in Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia. Spain and Sweden, and is currently expanding his International teaching commitments in order to promote the message of SAT.

Specific Adjusting Technique (S.A.T) 1

Teacher: Gerald "Gez" Lamb D.O. (U.K)

Dates: Sept.17-19,2026

Venue: TBD

Fees: Early Bird until July 1, 2026 $995 Plus GST = $1044.75

MAOMT fee after July 1st $1095 Plus GST = $1149.75

Regular fee after July 1st, $1195 plus GST = $1254.75

PRE-REQUISITES TO REGISTER YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF ONE OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS:

Canadian Federation of Osteopaths (CFO) affiliated Canadian Association,
General Osteopathic Council (UK),
American Osteopathic Association,
Canadian Osteopathic Association,
European Federation and Forum for Osteopathy (EFFO) affiliated associations
Currently in year 3 or further at the Sutherland Chan School of Osteopathy, Centre d'Enseignementen Ostéopathie Schools or CCO/CEO/CSO schools

Cancellation/Refund Policy:

100% refund will be provided up to 30 days before the 1st day of the course (less a $50 non-refundable registration fee)

75% refund will be provided up to 15 days before the 1st day of the course (less a $50 non-refundable registration fee)

50% refund will be provided up to 7 days before the 1st day of the course (less a $50 non-refundable registration fee)

Please note: If we have to cancel the course there will be a a 100% refund including the registration fee.

No refunds will be provided within 6 days prior to the 1st day of the course.

Any refunds provided will be paid in the same method of the original payment.

SAT 2 and 3…a word of explanation

Having taken SAT 1 you are now familiar with the basics of SAT. You have an overview of the philosophy and practise and you are capable of putting it into practise and learn from the process.

However it is now time to hear it again with refinement and with further practise and to discover that somehow you are hearing it in a different way and therefore putting it into action in a different way. This is the emphasis of SAT 2.

There will be multiple opportunities to appreciate what a pattern means and how it looks from person to person and how the variations in presentation show themselves in a spinal configuration and how it moulds the approach you are going to take.

But then we introduce the concept of Tissue Fields and Levels of Function. This enables you to experience the intelligence of the body as it works through each tissue type both in structure and in function. To begin to experience a level of response from the body according to where you, the practitioner, place your awareness and experience the body responding in a profoundly effective way. Moving always by nature toward better health through better function of the tissues of the body.

Then likewise we experience the level at which the body is functioning and the depth of that function and how to communicate effectively with the intelligence that is seeking better balance. Although this goes a little beyond the original format of specific mobilisation of the spine it lends itself to a sublime interplay between the deeper intention within the body and the practitioner’s knowledge of how the spinal mechanics responds to specificity.

Moving on then into SAT 3 we develop the intention to be much less of ‘doing’ an osteopath to more of ‘being’ an osteopath. Where the skills are more the tools that we choose to suit the body’s needs but that our sense of being more in ourselves enables an outcome way beyond the mechanical.

We have witnessed many osteopaths on our courses achieve realisations that have enabled them to be truly creative with the whole concept of specificity. Where the deeper knowing within us as ‘spiritual beings having a human experience’ enables a relationship to be formed with the intelligence in the body which takes the results well beyond the norm of the technique.

We hope that you will be encouraged to join Alain and myself in a truly collaborative process that will enhance your understanding of osteopathy and quicken your enthusiasm for what SAT may produce as a healing response within your patients.

We believe that SAT2 and 3 practised closely together will give you the tools to become masters of this awe inspiring approach to the osteopathic modality.

Gez Lamb