Product Description

Muscle Energy Techniques is a must for any student in the field of sports therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, yoga, Pilates and functional anatomy, and will also appeal to anybody qualified in physical therapy. This practical guide, packed full of colour photographs, illustrates the theory and practice of muscle energy techniques (MET). The principles described can be incorporated very quickly and effectively into a treatment plan, and can be used to assist in the rehabilitation of anyone who is recovering from an injury. In particular, this book will provide the therapist with the underpinning knowledge of the specific anatomy of the postural muscles that can become dysfunctionally shortened. Author John Gibbons brings years of expertise - he lectures in the field of sports medicine and physical therapy and works with elite-level and Olympic athletes in a wide range of sporting disciplines. In the book he looks at the theory of MET and, once that has been understood, he takes you on a muscle energy technique 'journey'. After demonstrating functional assessment testing for the muscles of 'posture' that can become chronically tight and dysfunctional, he shows how to apply a specific MET to correct these dysfunctional muscles to restore normality. The book contains easy to follow 'postural muscle' tables that you can use to monitor the progress of your patients.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7405 in Books
• Published on: 2011-11-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .0 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
Lotus Publishing have done very well to add this book to their list of excellent tomes in the field of anatomy and bodywork. There have been other published works on the topic of Muscle Energy Techniques (MET), but this one is head and shoulders above the rest.

John Gibbons has managed to achieve that rare thing of making this book 'reader friendly', yet, not remotely in a 'dumbing down' fashion. Some other works that I have read on the topic have blinded me with science, making a very practical subject into pure academia.


John's book is direct, methodical, well laid out and beautifully illustrated. He assumes that his reader is a beginner to the subject so topics such as anatomical terminology, and planes of body motion are initially discussed. The next chapter discusses the muscles and their function in which he describes the different types of muscles, composition of muscles fibres, physiology of muscular contraction, muscle reflexes and musculoskeletal mechanics. This is all extremely well done in a way that many physical therapy practitioners would do well to read and internally digest. It never ceases to amaze me how many physiotherapists and osteopaths have not kept abreast of the new and exciting physiology that has been presented over the past decade.

Chapter Four discusses the theory of Muscle Energy Techniques. It outlines the different benefits that range from restoring normal tone to hyper tonic muscles to boosting local circulation. The physiological effects of MET is dealt with very well. I was particularly impressed with the explanations of muscles that become 'tight', 'short' or 'taut'. The relationships of the Core muscles is well documented here and will be welcome by many physiotherapists and others who practise Pilates. Sacroiliac and pelvic stability is explained in a somewhat shortened down to earth way, whereas this topic is surely worth more text -however, this is carping. Poor posture and 'Pain Spasm Cycle' is dealt with very well

There follows three 'practical' chapters describing how to assess and MET treat each muscle complex. These are on the upper body, lower body and trunk/pelvis with the hip. Some of the assessments offer alternatives to the main one. Each muscle assessment and treatment is accompanied with details of the muscle (origin, insertion, action and nerve supply) shown with super diagrams. The assessments and treatments themselves are beautifully described and accompanied with photographs of the author with his model. The final chapter deals with specific testing for muscle weakness. The author deals with four muscles in detail - the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, serratus anterior and the lower fibres of the trapezius. Each one is dealt with in a very matter of fact and down to earth way which is quite refreshing these days. I learnt quite a lot on the interactions of the gluteus maximus and the 'firing' pattern of hip joint extension.

This is an excellent practical book with superb illustrations and photographs that has been painstakingly researched and written in an attempt to help the physical therapist create a new and different dimension in the treatment of his/her patient. I would thoroughly recommend it. --Positive Health, February, 2012

About the Author
John Gibbons is a qualified and registered osteopath with the General Osteopathic Council, specialising in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of sport-related injuries, specifically for the University of Oxford sports teams. Having lectured in the field of sports medicine and physical therapy for over 12 years, John delivers advanced therapy training to qualified professionals within the Premiership football and rugby sectors. He has written many articles on various aspects of physical therapy, which have been published through the Federation of Holistic Therapists and the Sports Injury Bulletin.