Handbook of Clinical Massage
A Complete Guide for Students and Practitioners

Mario-Paul Cassar (Author)

9780443073496, Elsevier Health Sciences

Paperback / softback, published 18 December 2003

352 pages
27 x 18 x 2.3 cm, 0.78 kg

"This book is simply a must for all students and practitioners of the powerful therapy of massage. Mario-Paul Cassar, himself a very experienced tutor and practitioner, has written an excellent book... It commences with the History of Massage and follows with guidance on the procedures for 'Case Histories' and general client assessment. The rest of the book is devoted to pages of massage techniques all clearly explained and beautifully illustrated. This book could be used as a 'text book' for tutors of massage, surely a book that has long been needed by the profession and one that I hope to study from cover to cover."Newsletter of the Guild of Complementary Practitioners, October 1999
is an attractive book, clearly laid out with excellent photographs which show tissue movement and therefore illustrate well the descriptions in the text. Diagrams alongside the photographs clarify specific points.

The text covers most essential aspects of the theory of massage. Some sections are dealt with in detail - background information is given to a number of clinical conditions and symptoms... The description of modifications of the techniques when the patient is unable to lie prone is comprehensive, as is the chapter on abdominal massage."Physiotherapy, April 2000
is an excellent book that aims to provide a practical yet scientific approach to massage therapy.
...throughout the whole book, movements are clearly shown in photographs and diagrams.
...this book achieves its aim and is correctly written for its chosen audience, providing an informative text to the student of massage and acting as a reference manual for the professional therapist."Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, December 2000

This book gives a comprehensive introduction to massage techniques and offers guidelines on the assessment of each body region prior to massage (including the symptoms and signs relating to pathology). Well researched and evidence-based, the book takes a unique medical approach describing applied massage techniques for common conditions and their utilization as an adjunct to both conventional and complementary treatments. Generously illustrated with black and white photographs to show how to do the techniques. Additional line drawings illustrate correct postural techniques for the practitioner. Instruction is also given on supplementary techniques for the physically impaired patient.Handbook of Massage Therapy 2^nd edition is aimed at all practitioners and students who practice the various disciplines of physical therapy. It provides the student with a comprehensive introduction to massage therapy whilst being of equal value to the practitioner, presenting theoretical information based on clinical experience and research material.

• Thorough descriptions of massage techniques, their physiological effects, indications and contraindications, and how massage may be used therapeutically helps the reader come to a better understanding of the treatment of many common conditions.
• Each of the chapters on body regions begins with an assessment of the region with guidelines on the examination of pathological symptoms, signs, and implications for massage treatment, preparing the reader for what is to come.
• A generous number of illustrations, including photographs and line drawings, show the correct techniques for the practitioner.
• Extra instruction shows supplementary methods for use with patients who are physically impaired, elderly, or unable to lie on the treatment table.

1. Massage Therapy
2. The Massage Techniques
3. The Effects of Massage
4. The Clinical Application of Massage
5. Massage for Body Regions: The Back
6. Massage for Body Regions: The Lower Limb
7. Massage for Body Regions: The Abdomen
8. Massage for Body Regions: The Chest
9. Massage for Body Regions: The Upper Limb
10. Massage for Body Regions: The Face, Head, and Neck

Subject Areas: Complementary medicine [MX], Physiotherapy [MQS]