Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC)
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SPEC Reference Texts
The lists of references are presented to assist individuals in preparing for NBCE examinations; however, study of the references will not guarantee that an individual will pass NBCE examinations. Moreover, these lists are not comprehensive and do not imply that references not included on a list are inappropriate or of lesser value or quality than references that are included.
Click here for a Printable Text Version of the SPEC Reference Texts
Beers, M. H., Porter, R. S., Jones, T. V., Kaplan, J. L., & Berkwits, M. (2006). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (18th ed.). Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.
Bergman, T. F., & Peterson, D. H. (2011). Chiropractic Technique: Principles and Procedures (3rd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Bickley, L. S., & Szilagyi, P. G. (2008). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (10th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Cipriano, J. J. (2003). Photographic Manual of Regional Orthopaedic and Neurological Tests (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Cox, J. M. (1999). Low Back Pain: Mechanism, Diagnosis and Treatment (6th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Evans, R. C. (2009). Illustrated Orthopedic Physical Assessment (3rd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Fauci, A. S., Braunwald, E., Kasper, D. L., Hauser, S. L., Longo, D. L., Jameson, J. L., et al. (Eds.). (2008). Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine (17th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Gatterman, M. (2004). Chiropractic Management of Spine Related Disorders (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Haldeman, S. (Ed.). (2005). Principles and Practice of Chiropractic (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Hoppenfeld, S. (1976). Physical Examination of the Spine and Extremities. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Hoppenfeld, S. (1977). Orthopaedic Neurology: A Diagnostic Guide to Neurologic Levels. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company.
Jaskoviak, P., & Schafer, R. (1993). Applied Physiotherapy: Practical Clinical Applications with Emphasis on the Management of Pain and Related Symptoms (2nd ed.). Arlington, VA: American Chiropractic Association.
Kirkaldy-Willis, W., & Bernard, T. (1999). Managing Low Back Pain (4th ed.). New York: Churchill Livingstone.
Liebensen, C. (Ed.). (2007). Rehabilitation of the Spine: A Practitioner’s Manual (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Magee, D. J. (2008). Orthopedic Physical Assessment (5th ed.). St. Louis: Saunders.
Marchiori, D. (2004). Clinical Imaging: With Skeletal, Chest and Abdomen Pattern Differentials (2nd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
McArdle, W. D., & Katch, V. L. (2009). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy, and Human Performance (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
McPhee, S.J., Papadakis, M.A., & Rabow, M. W. (2011). Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2011 (50th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Panjabi, M. M., & White, A. A., III. (2001). Biomechanics in the Musculoskeletal System. New York: Churchill Livingstone.
Scott, R. (2005). Legal Aspects of Documenting Patient Care (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Seidel, H. M., Ball, J., Dains, J., & Benedict, G. W. (2006). Mosby’s Guide to Physical Examination (6th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
Simons, D. C., Travell, J. C., & Simons, L. S. (1999). Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual/Vol. 1: The Upper Half of the Body (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Souza, T. A. (2008). Differential Diagnosis and Management for the Chiropractor: Protocols and Algorithms (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Travell, J. C., & Simons, D. C. (1999). Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual/Vol. 2: The Lower Extremities. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
White, A. A., III, & Panjabi, M. M. (1990). Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company.
Yochum, T. R., & Rowe, L. J. (2005). Essentials of Skeletal Radiology (Vols. 1-2) (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
