Instrument-assisted Myofascial Therapy

A pragmatic, evidence-informed approach to IATM practice, providing a complete overview of this effective therapy

A comprehensive and accessible guide to IAMT, covering the anatomy of the myofascial system; up to date scientific theory and research; practical applications of IAMT procedures; and integration of IAMT into the clinical decision-making process.

Instrument-Assisted Myofascial Therapy: Principles and Clinical Applications provides a complete overview of this effective therapy (IAMT) based on the authors' own clinical experience of using instruments to treat myofascial lesions. The text combines the latest scientific evidence and theory with practical guidelines. The authors describe the use of various IAMT techniques which the reader will be able to easily integrate into daily clinical practice.

The text progresses from didactic to practical information of relevance for a variety of clinicians:

- Anatomy of the myofascial system and its role in pain/dysfunction and treatments

- Science and theory of IAMT including history, types, and research on mechanisms of action and outcomes

- Practical application of IAMT Practice: an overview of techniques specific to tissue type (scars, tendons, muscles)

- Integration of IATM in clinical practice including clinical decision making (in diagnosis and treatment), indications, contraindications, and adjunct treatments

The text is intended to provide a guide for using myofascial instruments in daily practice. The reader will easily learn how to use IATM to enhance patient outcomes and to use it in a fashion which protects their own joints!

Procedures are explained and demonstrated using a clear and practical approach. Full-color photographs illustrate the use of the therapy in these commonly-treated areas: Cervical spine and head, Shoulder, Elbow, wrist and hand, Thoracic spine and chest, Lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint, Hip and pelvis, Knee, Ankle and foot.

Treatment protocols are provided which can be easily applied by the therapist for use with a variety of diagnoses relating to the same structures by using a standardised and precise approach. A treatment protocol is first presented on a specific structure that is commonly treated. The specific instrument is to be used is described first, then the entire treatment is explained in detail. from the starting position of the therapist and patient. Treatment progressions are then listed, as well as possible treatment options within the Myofascial Connective System (MCS). Beginning with the primarily treated structure, 'myofascial junctions' are...