Loren M. Fishman

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Loren M. Fishman, M.D., B.Phil.(oxon.) (1940- ) is a physiatrist on the staff at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons with a private practice in New York City. He is known for using electrophysiological diagnoses for low back pain, piriformis syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome, and using alternative methods, especially yoga, in treating these as well as other orthopedic and metabolic conditions. His research extends electromyography into realms previously confined to physical examination, and uses electromyography (EMG) to assess the electrophysiological effects of provocative maneuvers, evaluates the effects of specific yoga poses in the treatment of low back pain, osteoporosis, scoliosis, piriformis syndrome and rotator cuff syndrome, utilizes functional assessment to determine the trajectory and end-point of patients' recovery of independence after hospitalization.

In addition, Dr. Fishman and several colleagues have constructed the website Yoga Injury Prevention outlining the medical contraindications and medical benefits of common yoga poses.

Family and education

Dr. Fishman was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1940, the middle of three children. His father was an attorney; his mother was active in Jewish causes and the temple. His younger brother, H. Charles Fishman, MD is a well-known child and family psychiatrist; his older sister, Roberta Nechin, is an active financier of rehabilitation for low-income families in Chicago. His first cousin Joseph E. Stiglitz won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001 and was chief author of the report on climate change that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Dr. Fishman graduated from the the University of Michigan with High Honors in Philosophy, in 1962 and received a B.Phil. in Philosophy from Christ Church, Oxford in 1965. He then spent 10 years traveling in Europe and India, before studying Medicine at Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes in Chicago, and graduating in 1982. He began psychiatric training in a Harvard-Tufts program, and eventually became Chief Resident in Rehabilitation Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY in 1987.

After three years on the staff at Albert Einstein, Dr. Fishman became Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he works today. He also maintains a private practice in Manhattan.

Work and publications

Dr. Fishman has written and spoken on care for the disabled, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, their physical and medical treatment, electrodiagnosis, and the application of yoga to medical conditions. His book, Functional Electrodiagnosis describes how patients with multiple diagnoses (e.g., spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral disc) can determine which of the diagnoses is the main pain generator. Dr. Fishman has authored papers supporting the efficacy of specific yoga poses and series of poses in treating rotator cuff syndrome, scoliosis, spinal conditions and osteoporosis. His 2015 book Healing Yoga: Proven Postures to Treat Twenty Common Ailments -- from Backache to Bone Loss, Shoulder Pain to Bunions, and More describes and illustrates yoga remediation for the layman.

Dr. Fishman has been practicing yoga daily since the year of 1972-3 that he spent with B.K.S. Iyengar in India. He has written more than 90 academic articles, chapters and books, many utilizing anatomy, physiology and Western medical techniques to understand and demonstrate the value of specific yoga postures in prevention and healing. He has also worked in the philosophy of science, which yielded his book Trust: The Spiritual Impulse After Darwin. His work has been reviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio and a number of international periodicals. Media appearances include MSNBC, The Huffington Post and World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer. His work is detailed and he is called a “Thomas Edison of yoga therapy,” in William Broad’s book, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards. He is Associate Editor of Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. He was President of the New York Academy of Medicine in Rehabilitation in 1995 and was Treasurer of the Manhattan Institute for Cancer Research for 12 years, on the board of the B.K.S. Iyengar Center of Greater New York, and a founding board member of Cure CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), a charity focused on curing that condition.

Major publications

• Fishman LM, Dombi GW, Michaelsen C, Ringel SV, Rosbruch J, Rosner B, and Weber C. “Piriformis Syndrome: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome- a ten-study.” Arch Phys Rehabil. 2002; 83:(3) 295-302.
• Fishman LM. "Headstand in the treatment of rotator cuff syndrome – Sirsasana or surgery." International Journal of Yoga Therapy. (16): October 2006. p137-145.
• Fishman LM, Weiss E. “Sciatica” British Medical Journal/Epocrates, Epocrates June 2008.  
• Fishman LM, Saltonstall E, Genis S. "Yoga Injuries: A survey of 33,000 Yoga practitioners, teachers, and therapists.” International Journal of Yoga Therapy. October, 2008. and feature article October, 2009.
• Fishman LM. “Yoga for Rotator Cuff Tear.” Oral Prize Presentation. The First International Conference on Yoga for Health and Social Transformation, 2011 at Patanjali Yogpeeth. Haridwar, India. January 2-5, 2011.
• Fishman LM, Sherman KJ, Groessl EJ. ”Serial Case Reporting Yoga for Idiopathic and Degenerative Scoliosis.” Global Adv Health Med. 2014;3(5):16-21.
• Fishman LM. “Botulinum toxin in Piriformis Syndrome” – Chapter in Manual of Botulinum Toxin Therapy. Second Edition Truong D, Hallet M, Zachary CB, Dressler D. Cambridge University Press. 2015.

• Lu Y-H, Rosner B, Chang G, Fishman LM. "Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss" Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation: April/June 2016 Volume 32; Issue 2: 81–87.

External links

• Sciatica.org
• New Method Diagnoses Chronic Unexplained Nerve Pain - The Huffington Post
• Yoga Causes Surprising Number of Injuries - World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer
• The Risks And Rewards Of Practicing Yoga - NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross

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