John Basmajian
Encyclopedia
John V. Basmajian, OC
, O.Ont
(June 21, 1921 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian
academic and scientist. He was known for his work in rehabilitation
science, specifically in the area of electromyography
and biofeedback
.
Born in Istanbul
of Armenian
parents, he came to Canada in 1923. The family settled in Brantford, Ontario. During World War II
, he served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
with the rank of Captain. After the war, he received his M.D. in 1945 from the University of Toronto
.
In 1949, he accepted a position as a lecturer in anatomy at the University of Toronto. He was appointed an Assistant Professor in 1951, an Associate Professor in 1951, and a full Professor in 1956. In 1957, he took the position of Professor and Head of Anatomy at Queen's University
where he would remain until 1969. While residing in Kingston, Ontario he was Chairman of the Kingston Board of Education and was involved in the founding of St. Lawrence College. From 1969 to 1977, he was Director of Neurophysiology at the Georgia Mental Health Institute in Atlanta. He also was a Professor of Anatomy, Physical Medicine, and Psychiatry at Emory University
. Returning to Canada, he was a Professor of medicine at McMaster University
from 1977 until 1986, when he was appointed Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Anatomy. He was President of the North American Society of Anatomists for one term. While at McMaster University he also served as the Director of Chedoke Centre for Rehabilitation Medicine.
Basmajian 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, in many languages. He was also an inventor of medical equipment but refused compensation for all of these. He was always a quiet philanthropist, being more concerned about how his contributions were benefiting others, rather than the recognition he might gain for his generosity. His life's work has improved the lives and welfare of millions of people worldwide and has created countless careers in medicine and rehabilitation therapy.
For most of his career he was an in-demand keynote speaker and lecturer as the guest of universities, governments and medical societies all over the world. When earthquakes struck in
his native Armenia, he volunteered to teach and work with the doctors of brain injury victims.
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, which, for several decades, was the definitive text on the subject.
Today, with the advent of computers, the biofeedback techniques he pioneered are being applied to
a wide variety of interactive programs designed to help individuals with neurological disorders.
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".
John Basmajian died on the morning of March 18, 2008. He was survived by his wife Dora and his three children Haig, Nancy and Sally, their spouses Lynn, Mark and Kevin, and his grandchildren,
Mathew, Colin, Jocelyn and Peter.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(June 21, 1921 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic and scientist. He was known for his work in rehabilitation
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
science, specifically in the area of electromyography
Electromyography
Electromyography is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electrical potential generated by muscle...
and biofeedback
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will...
.
Born in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
parents, he came to Canada in 1923. The family settled in Brantford, Ontario. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
The Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Militia Medical Service was established in 1899. The Militia Medical Service was redesignated the Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1904. The Canadian Army Medical Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian...
with the rank of Captain. After the war, he received his M.D. in 1945 from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
In 1949, he accepted a position as a lecturer in anatomy at the University of Toronto. He was appointed an Assistant Professor in 1951, an Associate Professor in 1951, and a full Professor in 1956. In 1957, he took the position of Professor and Head of Anatomy at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
where he would remain until 1969. While residing in Kingston, Ontario he was Chairman of the Kingston Board of Education and was involved in the founding of St. Lawrence College. From 1969 to 1977, he was Director of Neurophysiology at the Georgia Mental Health Institute in Atlanta. He also was a Professor of Anatomy, Physical Medicine, and Psychiatry at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
. Returning to Canada, he was a Professor of medicine at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
from 1977 until 1986, when he was appointed Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Anatomy. He was President of the North American Society of Anatomists for one term. While at McMaster University he also served as the Director of Chedoke Centre for Rehabilitation Medicine.
Basmajian 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, in many languages. He was also an inventor of medical equipment but refused compensation for all of these. He was always a quiet philanthropist, being more concerned about how his contributions were benefiting others, rather than the recognition he might gain for his generosity. His life's work has improved the lives and welfare of millions of people worldwide and has created countless careers in medicine and rehabilitation therapy.
For most of his career he was an in-demand keynote speaker and lecturer as the guest of universities, governments and medical societies all over the world. When earthquakes struck in
his native Armenia, he volunteered to teach and work with the doctors of brain injury victims.
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, which, for several decades, was the definitive text on the subject.
Today, with the advent of computers, the biofeedback techniques he pioneered are being applied to
a wide variety of interactive programs designed to help individuals with neurological disorders.
In 1991, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for his "his pioneering work in electromyography, which had a significant impact on the development of biofeedback techniques".
John Basmajian died on the morning of March 18, 2008. He was survived by his wife Dora and his three children Haig, Nancy and Sally, their spouses Lynn, Mark and Kevin, and his grandchildren,
Mathew, Colin, Jocelyn and Peter.