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  • FW: [BIOMCH-L] The Publications of Mel Siff

    In reference to David Dillard's posting it struck me how BIOMCH-L
    discussions have changed over the years. I have been a subscriber since
    1990 when there were a couple hundred on the list. Early discussions were
    lengthy and focused on biomechanical issues. We have seen fewer and fewer
    of these discussions.

    While I agree with David that computer database searching and their
    limitations are important (see Minozzi et al. 2000 Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil.
    81:720-722), the issue brought up for discussion was the critical,
    emotionalized, and non-scientific tone certain postings. I have to agree
    with Jim Martin on this point and the point that there is limited evidence
    (maybe a handfull) of Dr. Siff's contributions to the peer reviewed
    literature in biomechanics. Most of Dr. Dillard's hits are from the
    "Fitness and Sports Review International." This publication was created
    when the "Yessis Review" ceased publication and only lasted a few years.
    These columns in this publication would not likely be considered peer
    reviewed by most scholars.

    Finally, here is one of my favorite quotes on Dr. Martins first point. Its
    from the beloved US president Theodore Roosevelt:

    "It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong
    man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The
    credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred
    by dust, and sweat, and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up
    short again and again because there is not effort without error or
    shortcomings; but who actually strives to do the deed, who knows the great
    devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best know in the
    end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while
    daring greatly knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold
    souls who know neither victory or defeat."

    __________________________________
    Duane Knudson, Ph.D.
    Associate Chair
    Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science
    California State University, Chico
    Chico, CA 95929-0330 USA
    530-898-6069
    530-898-4932 Fax
    dknudson@csuchico.edu
    http://web.csuchico.edu/~dknudson/
    _______________________________________


    > ----------
    > From: David P. Dillard
    > Reply To: David P. Dillard
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 8:44 PM
    > To: BIOMCH-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL
    > Subject: [BIOMCH-L] The Publications of Mel Siff
    >
    > Here is what I believe to be a more complete list of the publications in
    > which Mel Siff has participated, assuming that there is no other M. Siff
    > publishing in the area of physiology and biomechanics:
    >
    > Borkon L. Baird DM. Siff M. Tobacco smoking among students at the
    > University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. [Journal Article] South
    > African Medical Journal. 64(21):809-12, 1983 Nov 12. South African Medical
    > Journal
    >
    > Borkon L. Baird DM. Siff M. Tobacco smoking among students at the
    > University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. [Journal Article] South
    > African Medical Journal. 64(21):809-12, 1983 Nov 12. South African Medical
    > Journal
    >
    > Arce, J., Haupt, H.A., Irwin, K.D., Ohle, J., Palmieri, J., Siff, M.
    > Training variation. [Article] National Strength & Conditioning Association
    > journal 12(4), Aug/Sept 1990, 14-24
    >
    > Siff, M. Electrical stimulation, physical conditioning and muscle
    > development. [Audiovisual Material] NSCA Australasia Sydney, 1988, 1 sound
    > cassette.
    >
    > Siff, M. The science of sports specific circuit training. [Audiovisual
    > Material] NSCA Australasia Sydney, 1988, 1 sound cassette.
    >
    > Siff, M. The wealth of isometrics. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 93-94
    >
    > Siff, M. The myth of isolation. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 123
    >
    > Siff, M. The concept of symmetric training. [Article] Fitness and sports
    > review international 27(3), June 1992, 76-77
    >
    > Siff, M. The cardiovascular doctrine. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 112-113
    >
    > Siff, M. Sugar for energy? [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 99
    >
    > Siff, M., Gordon, K., Cloidt, S. Strength/flexibility development through
    > PNF. [Videotape] National Strength and Conditioning Association Lincoln,
    > Neb., c1989, 1 videocassette : sd., col.; 167 min.
    >
    > Siff, M. Strength training and muscle tension. [Article] Fitness and
    > sports review international 27(2), Apr 1992, 45
    >
    > Siff, M. Safety in the health club. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 126
    >
    > Siff, M. Rules of treatment. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 111
    >
    > Siff, M. Pelvic tilt? [Article] Fitness and sports review international
    > 27(4), Aug 1992, 130
    >
    > Siff, M. Oxygen debt? [Article] Fitness and sports review international
    > 27(3), June 1992, 94
    >
    > Siff, M. Nutrition for performance. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 89-90
    >
    > Siff, M. Muscles may not protect. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 84
    >
    > Siff, M. Lifting, belts and breathing. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 125-126
    >
    > Siff, M. Is seated exercise safer? [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 90
    >
    > Siff, M. Is lactic acid a toxin? [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 136
    >
    > Siff, M. Hybrid exercises. [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(2), Apr 1992, 58-59
    >
    > Siff, M. How hard are you training? [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(3), June 1992, 77
    >
    > Siff, M. High carbohydrate diets and slimming. [Article] Fitness and
    > sports review international 27(4), Aug 1992, 133
    >
    > Siff, M. Foot mechanics. [Article] Fitness and sports review international
    > 27(4), Aug 1992, 137-138
    >
    > Siff, M. Bodybuilding anorexia? [Article] Fitness and sports review
    > international 27(4), Aug 1992, 119
    >
    > Siff, M. Applications of electrostimulation in physical conditioning: a
    > review. [Article] Journal of applied sport science research 4(1), Feb/Mar
    > 1990, 20-26
    >
    > Siff, M. A flat back. [Article] Fitness and sports review international
    > 27(3), June 1992, 88
    >
    > Comments:
    >
    > I this week posted to several groups about a wonderful website in Tourism
    > that has a major amount of information about countries in the area of
    > tourism and other areas of information regarding those countries.
    >
    > worldinformation.com
    >
    >
    > On the DIG-REF discussion group an Australian Librarian chastised me for
    > posting such a site that had so little information as she had checked the
    > material for Australia and it had only one very brief page of Key Facts.
    > Stunned I quickly responded that I had used India for my example and found
    > many pages of material. Then getting perturbed, I went to the website and
    > checked Australia and found the same wealth of material. I posted a
    > detailed contents list for Australia content to the DIG-REF list but in
    > the meantime, the original poster, our Australian librarian reposted and
    > indicated that the tool she had used was Netscape 4.7 and the links to all
    > of the country content were not visable in the Netscape browser that she
    > had used, while Opera browser users and Internet Explorer users had no
    > problem viewing the site.
    >
    > Similarly, software deficient and challenged web based free versions of
    > databases like PubMed, as compared to database services like First Search
    > of OCLC or OVID or SilverPlatter or DIALOG, now owned by Thompson's of
    > Canada, are of no comparison in their ability to find information in a
    > database. Furthermore, other databases besides Medline need to be checked
    > to insure a more complete list of material on a subject or in this case
    > by an author and these additional databases may be found only in
    > commercial database searching services like those mentioned above.
    > Besides Medline, databases like Sports Discus, CINAHL (Combined Index to
    > Nursing and Allied Health), Health Star (OVID has the only up to date
    > version of this), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts and PreMedline
    > may need to be checked depending on the topic and this is by no means the
    > complete list of possible databases for medical or biomechanics resources.
    > Check this website for a list of databases that are available in the
    > Dialog searching service alone in the field of medicine.
    >
    > Databases by Subject Category:
    > Science - Medicine & Biosciences
    > http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bls0019.html#SB0019
    >
    > Now for those interested in the website on tourism that I used to
    > illustrate the issue of what one can and cannot find depending on the
    > tools used, here is a URL to a newsletter that contains that post.
    >
    > AIB Worldwide Community Tues., May 14 2002 Volume 05 : Number 208
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/intlbiz/message/12172
    >
    > I hope that this helps to clarify the picture regarding the publication
    > record of Mel Siff and also explains a bit about the difference between
    > some free databases on the web versus the commercial database products
    > some of which are provided for those affiliated with colleges and
    > universities by those institutions for the use of their members.
    >
    >
    > Sincerely,
    > David Dillard
    > Temple University
    > (215) 204 - 4584
    > jwne@astro.temple.edu
    >
    > On Wed, 15 May 2002, Jim Martin wrote:
    >
    > > Dear Biomechers:
    > >
    > > Like many of you, I have read with occasional amusement the posts by
    > Melvin
    > > Siff. In a recent post "Science Proves Anything It Desire?" he wrote
    > that
    > > the "...the incidence of this sort of science (i.e.,
    > self-fulfilling)
    > > is extensive enough as to taint our profession..." I found this
    > statement
    > > quite bold and was intrigued enough to see what type of research Dr.
    > > Siff has performed. I assumed that anyone who would make such a bold
    > > statement must have a research record that was beyond reproach. I was,
    > > therefore, quite surprised that a PubMed search turned up only two
    > > publications:
    > > Borkon L, Baird DM, Siff M. Tobacco smoking among students at the
    > > University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
    > > S Afr Med J. 1983 Nov 12;64(21):809-12.
    > > Cohen I, Siff MC. Increased safety in the rugby scrum. S Afr Med J. 1979
    > > Oct 13;56(16):625. No abstract available.
    > > This was particularly surprising considering that Dr. Siff's bio lists
    > him
    > > as "a sports scientist and biomechanist with a PhD in physiology
    > > (specializing in biomechanics)" yet he has produced no original research
    > in
    > > the peer reviewed literature in the last 19 years.
    > >
    > > This seemingly incongruous combination of almost no research
    > publications
    > > and bold criticism of the work of scientists reminds me of two quotes:
    > > "If you haven't done the research yourself, the most you can know is
    > what
    > > the questions are" (Ed Coyle, my advisor for my Masters).
    > > "It's easier to be a critic than a craftsman" (original author unknown
    > but
    > > this quote was often used by my mom).
    > >
    > > My point? I guess it is this: It is acceptable to criticize the research
    > of
    > > others but ONLY IF you are willing to do the work necessary to refute
    > their
    > > studies. Then you can point out the flaws of previous research in your
    > > discussion section in the context of why your results differ from those
    > > previously reported. Otherwise, such criticism will just make you sound
    > > like a radio talk show host who casts doubt on things that he/she can't
    > > even understand. Lastly, while many studies do contain flaws, it is
    > > important to remain optimistic and "look for the pony" (i.e. look for
    > that
    > > which is worthwhile). I will now step down off of my soap box.
    > >
    > > Cheers,
    > >
    > > Jim
    > >
    > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
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    > >
    >
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    >
    >

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