As the title suggests this book has been written to assist manual therapists to understand and hone the palpatory skills which are essential to their effectiveness as practitioners. Skilful palpation is the foundation stone of all effective manual therapy assessments and treatments. The ability to use subtle and sensitive touch to examine and assess patients is essential for an accurate interpretation of the underlying problems of fascial and muscle function. The accurate interpretation of palpatory findings is difficult and comes with experience. This book aims to increase awareness of how to palpate and understanding of what is being felt. In this fourth edition of his now well-established and much loved book Leon Chaitow has introduced references to the latest research findings relating to fascia and its role in health and disease, so that practitioners can apply this knowledge in interpreting what they palpate. In addition to the author, six notable contributors from Europe and North America enhance the work's range and authority. All manual therapists, whatever their professional background, will benefit from the wealth of experience- and research-based information presented in this book.
Leon Chaitow is well-known internationally as the author of over 60 books on natural heath and complementary medicine. He has written authoritatively at many levels, from easy to understand guides for the general public on health issues and treatment approaches to detailed, well-referenced texts for health care students and practitioners and their clients. He studied osteopathy and naturopathy at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. He subsequently studied acupuncture, cranial osteopathy and orthomolecular nutrition. Leon Chaitow was the first naturopath/osteopath to be appointed to a UK medical practice (Marylebone Health Centre, London).
Chapter 1. Objective: Palpatory literacy Leon Chaitow Chapter 2. Palpation reliability and validity Michael Seffinger Chapter 3. Fundamentals of palpation Leon Chaitow Chapter 4. Palpating and assessing the skin Leon Chaitow Chapter 5. Palpating for changes in muscle structure Leon Chaitow Chapter 6. Fascial palpation Thomas W. Myers and Leon Chaitow Chapter 7. Assessment of abnormal mechanical tension in the nervous system Leon Chaitow Chapter 8. Palpation and assessment of joints (including spine and pelvis) Leon Chaitow Chapter 9. Accurately identifying musculoskeletal dysfunction Whitney Lowe Chapter 10 - Evaluating movement Warrick McNeill and Sarah Mottram Chapter 11. Palpating for functional 'ease' Leon Chaitow Chapter 12 - Visceral palpation and respiratory function assessment Leon Chaitow Chapter 13 - Understanding and using intuitive faculties Sasha Chaitow Chapter 14 - Subtle palpation Leon Chaitow Chapter 15 - Palpation and emotional states Leon Chaitow Index
