Aryana Libris

Author : Chaitow Leon
Title : Muscle energy techniques
Year : 1996

Link download : Chaitow_Leon_-_Muscle_energy_techniques.zip

Foreword. As the art and science of neuromusculoskeletal care evolve, it is becoming increasingly clear that manual techniques are essential in the proper management of patients with problems in this area. What is less easily measured, however, is the impact of the degree of skill with which these techniques are applied on the outcome of management. Most clinicians who use manual techniques in the treatment of dysfunction in the locomotor system would agree, however, that the level of skill with which a practitioner applies a certain technique is of the utmost importance in the success of any management strategy. Intuition would tell us that a clinician with limited skill and a limited variety of methods in his or her armamentarium would be less effective, especially for a difficult case, than one who possesses wide-ranging knowledge and ability. It has been said that you can’t learn manual skills from a book. However, you can build upon an existing body of knowledge, skill and experience with a written source that introduces new methodology and instructs in the scientific basis and proper application of one’s current methodology. In addition, a written source of high-quality, clinically applicable information can be an excellent source of support material when one is taking an undergraduate or postgraduate course in manual therapy. Leon Chaitow has produced such a book. One of the unique aspects of manual therapy that one discovers early in practice is that no two patients are alike and no two locomotor systems are alike. As a result, each patient requires a highly individualized approach that addresses his or her unique circumstances. This means that one must be meticulous about identifying those specific dysfunctions, be they joint, muscle or otherwise, that are most important in producing the disorder from which the patient suffers, and choosing those specific treatment approaches that are most likely to correct the identified dysfunctions. Muscle energy techniques (METs) are among the most valuable tools that any manual clinician can have in his or her tool box. There are many reasons for this. First, METs have a wide application. They can be applied to muscle hypertonicity and muscle tightness, but can be equally effectively applied to joint dysfunction and joint capsule adhesions. Important modifications must be made for each application, as demonstrated in this book. But because the method is as flexible as it is, the clinician is provided with a tool that he or she can modify for a variety of types of dysfunction. In addition, METs can be used as an important aspect of an overall rehabilitation strategy, as brought out by Craig Liebenson in his chapter. Second, METs can be applied in a gentle manner. In manual therapy, we always want to be as gentle as possible, in a way that still provides effective correction of dysfunction. MET, particularly when applied to muscle hypertonicity and to joint dysfunction, is both gentle and effective. For those of us who use thrust techniques, METs also represent a different method of applying joint manipulation that is well tolerated by the apprehensive patient, or the acute situation. And, MET has been shown to be equally effective as thrust techniques. ...