Many sports people are interested in trying yoga techniques in the hope of improved flexibility, strength, breathing and concentration, but many can be prevented from optimal results due to a lack of understanding on the part of yoga teachers of the specific physical requirements of their sport. This is a manual for professionals who work with athletes of all disciplines and shows them how to adapt yoga practice for swimmers, cyclists, runners, tennis players and more.

This bridge between evidence-based modern sports medicine and the ancient practices of yoga, provides solid training guidance as well as offers psychological wisdom to help control and refine the actions of the mind.

Essential reading for yoga therapists and teachers, athletic coaches and bodywork professionals who work with athletes.

Kinesiology is the study of human and nonhuman animal-body movements, performance, and function by applying the sciences of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and neuroscience. This book is a guide to human kinesiology for physiotherapists. Divided into three sections, the text begins with an introduction to the field, anatomical and physiological fundamentals of human motion, and biomechanics. The following section covers joint and muscle movement in different regions of the body, from shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, to pelvis, hip, knee, ankle and foot, and spine. The final chapters discuss posture and movement and the application of kinesiology to daily life activities, sports skills and prevention of sports injuries. The comprehensive text is further enhanced by clinical photographs, illustrations and tables. Key points Comprehensive guide to human kinesiology for physiotherapists Provides clear understanding of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics Covers joint and muscle movement in all regions of the body Discusses application of kinesiology to daily life activities, sports and prevention of injuries

In this highly practical guide, acclaimed physical therapist and international lecturer Daniel Lawrence dispels some of the myths around cupping therapy and shows how it deserves to be viewed as a highly credible and versatile therapeutic tool in modern practice Cupping-an ancient therapy which uses vacuum cups placed over the skin to treat a wide range of health conditions-appears in one of the earliest medical textbooks ever written and has been used in cultures around the world for thousands of years. Though much maligned by its perception as a "complementary therapy," the emergence of modern research supporting the use of cupping to treat musculoskeletal conditions has seen it enjoy a huge resurgence in recent years. You only need look at the unmistakable cupping marks visible on Olympic swimmers to see how valued it is within professional sport. An ancient treatment, a new way Presented with clear descriptions, color photographs, and QR codes linking to online video tutorials, Lawrence's approach to dry cupping offers enhanced treatment outcomes and methods that are more readily accepted by Western medicine and modern manual therapy bodyworkers. These are techniques that deliver maximum benefit whilst minimizing some of the less desirable after-effects of more traditional methods. Starting with the history of cupping, the book guides you through the principles of application with illustrated protocols for musculoskeletal conditions of the foot, ankle, lower leg, knee, thigh, hip, back, shoulder, wrist, hand, elbow, and neck. Whether you are looking to treat Achilles tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or low back pain, Lawrence illustrates why cupping is a safe and effective choice of treatment. Where this book differs from others, however, is that it introduces the concept of using passive and active movement in a treatment. In this way, cupping can be viewed as an enhanced form of both massage and exercise rehabilitation. Couple this with a valuable understanding of how these techniques influence the nervous system and cupping now stands up to "evidence-based" scrutiny. This is modern cupping!

Revised and updated: a fresh new look to this established best seller, offering unique insights into this versatile and highly effective technique in the physical therapists' toolbox. Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) is a must for any student or practitioner of physical therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy. This practical guide, packed full of colour photographs, fully illustrates the theory and practice of a range muscle energy techniques. The book is broken in five parts. In Part I, the author examines the theory and principles behind muscle energy techniques, with chapters introducing the technique itself, muscle imbalances, myofascial slings and core muscle relationships, which leads neatly into the practice behind the technique. Parts II to IV break down the technique into body areas, i.e., upper body, lower body, trunk and pelvis, with clear descriptive explanations of the techniques accompanied by colour photographs with directional arrows showing the practitioner how to maximise the benefits of the treatment. Clear drawings allow the reader to understand the basic anatomy of each muscle. A concluding Part V shows two applications of METs: self-lengthening techniques for the shoulder complex and muscle weakness testing and the gluteals. The complete guide for any student or practitioner of physical therapy and related modalities, this is a book that you will refer to again and again.

A must-have book for understanding one of the most fundamental areas of physical therapy: the nervous system and its relationship to musculoskeletal pain. Osteopath, lecturer and author John Gibbons offers an accessible introduction to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Alongside real case studies and guidelines for hands-on work with clients and patients, The Vital Nerves demystifies and makes accessible everything from how to diagnose nerve conditions to understanding how our cells communicate. Gibbons provides critical insights into the structure and functions of the PNS; the body's response to stimuli and how it knows what to do; the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems; understanding the stress response; and how reflex testing can aid in diagnosing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, and paresthesias. The Vital Nerves addresses practical, common considerations like how to: Assess the nervous system using a patella (reflex) hammer, myotome (muscle) testing and dermatome (sensory) testing Determine whether pain in the posterior part of the thigh is caused by the sciatic nerve, piriformis or simply a hamstring strain Decide at what level a disc may have herniated Differentiate between upper and lower motor neurone disorders Know what to do with the findings of your neurological assessment and the circumstances under which to refer patients for more specialist care. The Vital Nerves is a comprehensive, must-have roadmap to the functional anatomy of the nervous system. Enriched with anatomical drawings and detailed explanations, it explains neurological testing, common neuropathies, and differential diagnoses, and is an indispensable resource for physical therapists and bodyworkers.

This thoroughly revised edition of the authoritative reference Fascial Release for Structural Balance includes all of the most current research on the role of fascia and myofascia in the body, and how treatment affects it. James Earls and Thomas Myers have taken advantage of more sophisticated testing to explore in greater detail the relationship between anatomical structure and function, making this updated edition an even more essential guide. Fascia, the soft tissue surrounding muscles, bones, and organs, plays a crucial role in supporting the body. By learning to intelligently manipulate it, a bodyworker or therapist can help with many chronic conditions that their clients suffer from, providing immediate pain relief as well as reducing the strains that may contribute to the patient's ongoing aches and pains and leading to rapid, effective, and lasting pain relief. The authors argue that approaching the fascia requires "a different eye, a different touch, and tissue-specific techniques." Offering a detailed introduction to structural anatomy and fascial release therapy, including postural analysis, complete technique descriptions, and the art of proper assessment of a patient through "bodyreading," the book features 150 color photographs that clearly demonstrate each technique. Earls and Myers, both respected bodywork professionals, provide any bodywork practitioner using manual therapy-including physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, myofascial and trigger point therapists, and massage therapists-the information they need to deliver effective treatments and create long-lasting, systemic change in clients' shape and structure.