A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology

From The Critics

Reviewer: Mary Beth Holz, MS, RN, FNP, HNC(Private Practice)
Description: "This outstanding massage therapy guide to pathology serves as a valuable learning tool and reference. This comprehensive book is organized by systems containing updated information for each condition. Each chapter contains objectives, topic content, review questions, and detailed bibliography. Enhancements in this edition include information on 30 additional conditions, a chapter on the endocrine system and section dedicated to mental disorders. "
Purpose: "The book is intended to identify healthy functioning of the human body and facilitate knowledge of how the body works in the presence of disease, so that practitioners may become aware of the influence of their practice on clients. Enhancing massage and bodywork practitioner knowledge of the human system is essential since the public's use of massage for health-related purposes continues to rise. As a result, there is a need for practitioners to be familiar with various health conditions as they relate to the use of massage. The author successfully accomplishes these goals providing information for each condition including demographic, definition, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and applicability of massage. "
Audience: This book is intended for massage students as well as advanced practitioners requiring a reference addressing a variety of disorders frequently seen in practice. Web site references have been included for instructor access in order to facilitate educational programs using this book. The author draws from years of practice and teaching experience as well as research and collaboration with other professionals.
Features: "Fequently encountered clinical conditions are included for integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, circulatory, lymph and immune, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary and reproductive systems. Material is organized and easy to read. A quick reference chart is included and can be used to determine whether massage is indicated or contraindicated for each condition. "Watch for This" sections highlight conditions that may have similar presenting symptoms. Photographs of skin conditions are significant in quantity and quality. "
Assessment: This book is concise and serves as an easy to use reference of frequently encountered health conditions. Information found in medical pathology texts has been simplified to address the needs of massage therapy and bodywork practitioners. It is not intended to be used for diagnosis of medical conditions. However, it is a superb reference and contribution to a growing practice field.

Rebekah Kalen Dubrosky

This is an excellent pathology textbook for the massage therapy student. It is a wonderful reference for massage therapists working in a traditional healthcare setting. This text presents fundamental information about common pathologies and the appropriateness of massage for each condition. It fills a badly needed hole in the education of massage therapists. The quick reference chart in Appendix 5 is an excellent resource for the practicing therapist. This textbook is meant for students studying massage therapy as well as those therapists already in practice. It contains a system-by-system review of common physiological disorders. It describes the action a massage therapist should take with each disorder. The summary boxes and Appendix 5 are excellent tools for the therapist in practice who is trying to determine a pathology or action to take for a particular pathology. I have not seen another book of this caliber geared for massage therapists. It is well organized and includes an excellent glossary and index. The objectives and the review questions make it a nice study tool.

From The Critics

Following the order of most anatomy or physiology textbooks, this volume presents overviews of body systems and entries on pathologies with information relevant to the work of the practicing massage therapist. Each entry discusses, where applicable, the demographics of the disorder, its etiology and progression, signs and symptoms, and the applicability of massage. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Booknews

This book is for students and practitioners of bodywork who need to make decisions quickly and accurately about whether or not massage is appropriate for their clients. Provides a database of information on a variety of diseases and conditions, and discusses how massage may or may not fit into the healing process. Covers the basic physiology of body systems in health, then describes how these processes are interrupted when disease occurs. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

5 Stars! from Doody