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383

t

Myofasc ia l Release Manual

by Carol J Manheim. Slack Incorporated,

New Jersey,

1994

(ISBN

5 64224 5 .

Illus.

185

pages, wire bound. 2nd edition.

38.

This book is a good introduction to

the concept of myofascial release

@DO

defined as ‘a highly interactive

stretching technique that requires

feedback from th e patient’s body.

. .

It

is

the philosophic base which

separates

R

from other stretching

techniques.’

An updating of the firs t edition, the

purpose is to teach the techniques of

M R

as

a

mechanical skill. This is

done very well, first by explaining

the sensations that will be felt by

therapists and also patients’

reactions

to

the release. A large part

of the treatment is that the

therapists work with rathe r than on

the patients, allowing them to

be

equal in th e treatment process. The

therapists wait for ‘guidance from

the patients’ bodies’ rather than

planning t reatmen ts ahead step by

step.

The book follows an organised and

logical layout sharing single-

therapist, multi-therapist and then

advanced techniques (including

.three-dimensional treatments,

trigger points and dural tube

releases).

At the end of the book is a very

thorough assessment that Ms

Manheim uses; however, it s

a

little

repetitive and could have been

condensed.

Throughout the

book

there

are

a

great many photographs illustrating

the different techniques, useful for

those who have no knowledge

of

these gain they could have been

reduced. Also from some of the

photographs you would have to

choose your patients

extremely

carefully

The exact mechanism by which

M R

works is still unknown he

book does clearly

state

this bu t some

people may

be

dubious about reading

a book for which there is no concrete

or scientific basis although is

known to have very good effects

clinically. The author also states that

M R is a ‘very safe technique which

prevents inadvertent overstretching

of the soft tissues of the body when

the techniques a re applied properly’

ut what

is

properly?

feel the book is relevant

to

physiotherapiste

as

an adjunct to our

many different techniques, along

‘utterly exhausted’

after

hydro-

therapy. Physiotherapists may take

exception

to

this statement

It is

a

readable

book

but

a

trifle

unabalanced. The exercise sectionis

hopelessly short and unenthusiastic;

it makes no mention

of

muscle

strengthening, nor of the vital role

that

exercise plays in the overall

care

of these clients.

This would have been an excellent

opportunity to target those patients

who are anxious to try alternative

therapies for their condition. The

document appears to rely mainly on

passive therapies, and patients with

chronic ioint disease often have a

~~~ ~

similar lines to connective tissue

massage and therefore aimed at

those with a greater interest in soR

tissue mobilisations.

It

is very readable and easy to flick

through, especially with a wire-o-

binding making it impossible

to

damage the spine so long as the

holes do not rip over time). It would

be beneficial

to

have in a department

for reference to different stretches

and with good photographsillustrat-

ing those stretches.

St phani8 Cain

MCSP

~~~~~ ~

Arthr i t i s and Rheumatlsm:

A self help guide COmbinlnQ

The

a aU and soeLt jo int

orthodox a i d complementii

chaptern

and

s

written in an easy

approach to health style in fairly large print. There

are

byHesnain waliii8ndAndraeffim‘ ta bl es an d cle ar ch ar ts an d

Headway,

Ho wamlStougMm,

London

1994 (ISBN 0 34

6 563

4).

Illus 122

diagrams. The content

Readersof

‘Arihritis nd

Rheumatism’

d’*-essent io l~ a~i*iaameehnniecl l

ah ice Bone

is

a living

t issue made

u p of

desire

t

nitiate and participate in

an activity

of

their

o w n

volition,

a h, -m ofDm in which bin calcium.

One

re ommended their

m nes andph osphor us Some joi

are like a hinge

(knee

and elbow, above)

while others are ike a ball and socket fiip

and

shoulder, top

ri ht

physiotherapist or alternative

therapist

Jil l Lloyd

BA

MCSP