Assessment and Treatment Methods for Manual Therapists

Book excerpt: Effectively assessing clients and knowing how to treat them is the cornerstone of manual therapy. This practical and informative book gives clear and detailed information about these two steps. The book provides step-by-step instructions (including Illustrations) for 19 assessment methods and 24 gentle treatment methods, some of which appear in print for the first time. These methods can be combined to give multiple options for treatment, as demonstrated in five practical examples which demonstrate how the practitioner can apply the methods to improve their clients' wellbeing. The author also describes his six-axis model of variance among treatment methods, which will be particularly useful for practitioners who may want to develop additional new treatment methods of their own. Jeff Burch seeks to demystify the complex and often inconsistent terminology found in many manual therapy texts, making this a practical text for readers of all levels. It will be a useful tool for osteopaths, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, structural integrators, and all bodyworkers.