Basmajian, John V.
Biography
John V. Basmajian, OC, O.Ont (1921 – 2008) was a Canadian academic and scientist. Born in Istanbul of Armenian parents, he came to Canada in 1923. He was known for his work in rehabilitation science, specifically in the area of electromyography and biofeedback. He was a true giant in the world of health care research and clinical interventions. He was actively involved in founding numerous professional societies and his books, published by Williams and Wilkins, were printed at a level that a best-selling novelist would dream of-- exceeding a million copies, overall. Dr. Basmajian was a very early pioneer in the field of biofeedback, performing some of the earliest studies, using fine-wire EMG (Electromyographic) instrumentation to demonstrate that subjects could voluntarily control muscles, even at the single motor unit level, which is controlled by a single neuron in the spinal cord. He later authored a book on Biofeedback, published by Williams and Wilkins which, for several decades, was the definitive text on the subject.
In 1991, he was awarded the Order of Ontario. In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "his pioneering work in electromyography, which had a significant impact on the development of biofeedback techniques".
(From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Basmajian)
Published Work
1998. Primary anatomy. Champain, Illinois : Stipes Publishing. (Nonfiction)
1996. [editor, with Sikhar N. Banerjee] Clinical decision making in rehabilitation. New York : Churchill Livingstone. (Nonfiction)
1993. I.O.U: adventures of a medical scientist. Hamilton: J&D Books. (Nonfiction)
1990. [editor, with Steven L. Wolf] Therapeutic exercise, 5th edition. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins.
1989. [editor] Biofeedback: principles and practice for clinicians. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
1985. [editor] Manipulation, traction, and massage. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
1985. [with Carlo J. De Luca] Muscles alive: their functions revealed by electromyoography, 5th ed. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
1984. [editor, with R. Lee Kirby] Medical rehabilitation. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
1983. Surface anatomy: an instruction manual. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
1969. [with M.A. McConaill] Muscles and movements : a basis for human kinesiology. Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins. (Nonfiction)
