Clinical Assessment for Massage therapy – a practical guide

Clinical Assessment for Massage therapy – a practical guide by David Zulak brings together a range of examination and assessment techniques which are otherwise only found in a variety of different places. The author presents them in a way which is specifically relevant to massage therapists. The ability to accurately assess a client’s condition is crucial if massage therapy is to be given safely, appropriately and effectively.

The book is in two main parts:

• Part I: Essentials of Assessment addresses various background topics which need to be understood when preparing for assessment. These include a chapter on the assessment of gait and posture and another on pain.
• Part II: Regional Assessment describes in detail the individual assessment techniques for each part of the body and gives guidance on how and when to use them.

Additional appendices include a muscle chart; information and guidance on measuring the range of motion of joints; and neurological testing.

Students of massage therapy will find the book to be a valuable source of useful and relevant material to support their learning and understanding for their new profession.  More experienced therapists will use it to enhance, update and extend their skills in this key area of their practice.

David Zulak MA, RMT has been a massage therapist since 1994, and an instructor since 1996. He has worked as an instructor, program director and curriculum writer for several massage therapy schools in Ontario, Canada. In the course of his teaching career, he has taught almost every course given at massage therapy schools however his focus and interest has always remained anatomy, treatments, techniques and orthopaedic assessment skills. A specific passion of his has been emphasizing and promoting the need for all massage therapists to have a good solid understanding of and facility with the skills involved in clinical assessment.