Spinal Manipulation Made Simple: A Manual of Soft Tissue Techniques [Paperback]

Jeffrey Maitland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

Written by an expert on alternative bodywork, this book presents techniques for manipulating the soft tissues of the back in a safe, simple manner. The method avoids the high velocity, low amplitude thrusting techniques employed by chiropractors. Instead, it utilizes the intuitive sense of somatic bodyworkers combined with the proven theory and technique of Rolfing to provide safe and effective treatment. Maitland shows how to elegantly release joint fixations in the spine, sacrum, pelvis, and ribcage by using subtle soft tissue techniques, rather than the thrusting techniques that "pop" the joints. This gentler kind of individualized Rolfing work is thoroughly described within an explanation of biomechanics, aided by drawings and photographs which depict techniques and anatomy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeffrey Maitland, Ph.D., is a philosophical counselor and advanced Rolfer. He is a senior instructor and Director of Academic Affairs at the International Rolf Institute. He lives and practices in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556433522
• ISBN-13: 978-1556433528
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Medical Books > Allied Health Professions > Physical Therapy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Accessible Book on this subject Yet!, May 19, 2001

By 

Valerie Berg (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spinal Manipulation Made Simple: A Manual of Soft Tissue Techniques (Paperback)

This book is easy, reader friendly and accessible for somatic practitioners to understand clearly what one is feeling both at the boney and tissue levels. Jeff has given us his years of practicing this in distilling the information of spinal biomechanics into linguistically and technically clear steps for easing joint fixations and facet restrictions anywhere along the spine via soft tissue techniques and a whole body approach. Excellent drawings and photographs accompany the text for even further clarity. The anatomy is all there plus easy ways to understand what to do even when you don't understand why. The book is a tour of every facet of the spine from sacrum to occiput in the possible things one might feel and wonder what the heck to do about it rather than vague mashing around. Included is the constant reference to working with the whole body/person. Anyone "working" on bodies would benefit from having this manual and keeping it close at hand.

73 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spinal Manipulation Made Simple, January 10, 2003

By 

Hans Borge (4045, Hafrsfjord Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spinal Manipulation Made Simple: A Manual of Soft Tissue Techniques (Paperback)

Working as a physical therapist and acupuncturist with some education in manual therapy/osteopathy,a couple of years working with dry-needling and bodywork on triggerpoints, I find this little book extremely useful in daily practice.
Shifting from high-velocity techniques to these soft-tissue/assisted release- techniques ,gives very good predictable results with greatly reduced risk of tissue-damage on our patients.
Thorough explanations of spinal mechanics, testing and release-tecniques for joint fixations in the totalcolumna gives any bodyworker/therapist the possibility to release painful facet restrictions after a very short study/workperiod.This little seemingly modest text should give value for several expensive workshops and courses.
Releasing the overlying triggerpoints in paravertebral muscles simultaneously giving the fixed joint an impetus towards normal position is elegant, efficient and largely as painfree as any release of triggerpoints. Thank you very much Jeffrey Maitland!

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great explanations, great reading, July 24, 2003

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spinal Manipulation Made Simple: A Manual of Soft Tissue Techniques (Paperback)

Most people are familiar with the spinal manipulations of Chiropractors and Osteopaths but most are unfamiliar with somatic techniques and how they differ. Instead of quick movements to "adjust" the back, it involves slower techniques designed to help the body to realign the vertebrae correctly using its own natural actions and reactions. Jeffrey Maitland has thoroughly researched the area of spinal manipulation and with the help of Chiropractors, Osteopaths, and Rolfers has put together this text on techniques that can be understood by anyone. The book is designed for those who want a better understanding of their back, how different problems originate, and how to resolve those problems. This does not mean that you will never need to see an Osteopath or Chiropractor, but you may be able to resolve many basic problems yourself. Of course you can't work on your own back and so the techniques better enable you to help others. These are simple, slow, safe, body aware techniques and that makes this a highly recommended book for anyone who wants to understand the back, how it works, and how to live with theirs or those who want to add additional techniques to their knowledge base.