The MELT Method: A Breakthrough Self-Treatment System to Eliminate Chronic Pain, Erase the Signs of Aging, and Feel Fantastic in Just 10 Minutes a Day!
In The MELT Method , therapist Sue Hitzmann offers a breakthrough self-treatment system to combat chronic pain and erase the effects of aging and active living—in as little as ten minutes a day.With a focus on the body's connective tissues and the role they play in pain, stress, weight gain, and overall health, Hitzmann's life-changing program features techniques that can be done in your own home.A nationally known manual therapist and educator, Hitzmann helps her clients find relief from pain and suffering by taking advantage of the body's natural restorative properties. The MELT Method shows you how to eliminate pain, no matter what the cause, and embrace a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Sue Hitzmann, MS, CST, NMT is the creator of the MELT Method ®, a simple self-treatment technique that helps people get out and stay out of chronic pain. A nationally recognized educator, manual therapist, exercise physiologist, and founding member of the Fascia Research Society, Sue is the author of the New York Times bestselling book The MELT Method, which has been translated into eight languages and helped over 200,000 people lead a healthy, pain-free life.
Interesting method. I give the method itself 5 stars.
Unfortunately, Sue HItzmann cannot write. The book is a hot mess. It's repetitive (play a drinking game for every mention of "hydrated", die of alcohol poisoning midway through) and convoluted (how many times are we shown the same damn pictures of the foot treatment or hand treatment?).
Shallow thinking rears its ugly head early on when we read on p. 25 "In the year 2000, an Internet search using the keyword fascia yielded only 1,500 results. Today, that number is 43 million and rising rapidly." This is a fairly meaningless statistic -- the Internet has grown and search engines have changed. Internet searches for the term "spaghetti" or "mechanical pencils" would show similar growth, proving pretty much nothing. It's hard to rely on an author's "research" when they attempt to pass this type of factoid off as weighty.
And I'm okay with the concept that she feels vibrations, but I'm NOT okay with hearing about it couched in terms of breathless amazement so many times that it becomes apparent that in her own mind she's a super special snowflake.
EDITED TO ADD: If you want a coherent book on self treating fascia for greater mobility, get The Roll Model by Jill Miller. I wish I'd waited and just purchased that one instead.
I found the presentation/writing style off-putting, initially. It seemed that the first several chapters were just a lot of words and paragraphs that didn't tell/teach me anything. Being a group fitness instructor and personal trainer for the past 20 years, I'm quite accustomed to reading and comprehending anatomy, physiology and medical jargon. While the theories and information made sense to me and were consistent with thingss I'd learned at the feet of a few bodyworkers I had the privilege to share employment with some years ago, many parts of this book read too much like an infomercial "I'm going to tell you how to get this for yourself! But first, a lot of backstory... and then I'll tell YOU how YOU can do this yourself!" and so on... I think this could be cleaned up a bit, and I hope those first few chapters aren't off-putting to anyone who could benefit from the MELT Method, but might feel tempted not to persevere past the introductory chapters.
Also, initially, the terms used were rather awkward and, to me, not user-friendly, though I found myself accepting and adapting to them more easily when they were actually applied in conjunction with the hands-on techniques.
I wish the techniques, exercises, photos and instructions had been presented earlier on in the book, but once you weed through the excess, you finally do get to the root and source of the book, and begin to make headway. It's definitely a good program, and much more helpful than the usual foam roller "how to" books. These activities were simple to perform, and also restful and restorative. Other foam roller exercises leave me feeling too fatigued to actually do after a busy week of teaching fitness classes. The MELT Method is definitely helpful in alleviating pain, tension and discomfort and I'm going to be purchasing a copy of my own so I can refer to it again and again.
Last year I spent many months with a therapeutic masseuse who released the effects of years of broken bones, sprains, an old whiplash and concussion injuries through what I now know was myofascial release. I have been relieved of so many aches and pains that I didn't even know I had because they had always been in my body.
This book and the exercises have allowed me to more fully understand what happened to me and how I can continue to feel relief without an expensive appointment every week. Now I can help myself feel better any time I need to. Now I just need to have the right equipment instead of my jerry-rigged ones.
Most important to me is understanding the connective tissue system which has only been studied in the last 10+ years. Aches and pains have a physical reason and are not just 'in the head'.
Poorly written. Too much focus put on arguing why "the melt method" is important and the author's struggle to impress its importance. Lacking and redundant.
I think this book might be useful for those with more patience than me. I saw the author on a health show - can't remember which, and she was so interesting and informative that I immediately requested her book from my local library. She did these facial exercises that were really impressive. Unfortunately for me, her engaging manner didn't translate well to paper. I didn't realize that there's special equipment required and that I would find much too much information on the human anatomy. The exercises she demonstrated on television were also not even mentioned in the book which was very disappointing.
I am not thrilled with the presentation of her information. It is highly repetitive and I had to power through this book. The author is obviously proud of her journey to this point. It is highly repetitive and I had to power through this book. It could have been shorter in length, with no loss of information and I would have been gratefully thrilled. It is highly repetitive and I had to power through this book. I am intrigued by the information and will be giving the protocol a go, but I am relieved the book is done. It is highly repetitive and I had to power through this book, as you may well have powered through this book review!
I get tired of authors who claim to have invented a way of exercising, or eating, or even breathing! The majority of the book tries to convince the reader that the author's discoveries about body awareness and rolling are to be followed in a strict sequence, when, really, I find that the rolling exercises themselves can be found in many places, and explained much more succinctly. The exercises themselves are fine, but all the blah-blah was just a waste of time. There are much better books (and internet sites) out there that tell you all you need to know, without participating in "The MELT Method."
A book that describes how to use balls and other simple techniques to overcome pain and fatigue. I like the book but feel the author spends alot of time talking about the MELT method rather than how it is a tool in a broader way of regaining heatl and strength.
I use this book daily, and the method works to manage a complex set of chronic conditions resulting from both chronic disease as well as long term damage from a life threatening motor vehicle accident over a decade ago that left me in a wheelchair for six months.
That said, it needed better editing. The organization of the information is difficult to follow, and the book is conceptually designed almost as a memoir, but the audience/user here is going to approach it as a reference. That mismatch produces some communication fails along the way.
This book can be a lifesaver for those with chronic back pain. After following the techniques for the past 4 months, I can unlock my SI joint and upper back without seeing a physiotherapist or chiropractor (who I was seeing almost weekly). It has a lot of writing for a how-to book and sometimes the instructions for various moves are not immediately clear. This may deter many people who could benefit from the techniques.
A freind mentioned this book so after forgetting and remembering a few times, often not recalling the acronym, I got it from the library then found my yoga studio was offering a class in MELT. Reading the book was interesting as it shows the authors awakening to an important part of the human body's systems that has been largely ignored, and something I have been working with in yoga classes for several years. This put a punch in my own development with some specific practices that so far have helped me with chronic foot pain (my main reason for being interested). I think my sleep has seen improvement as well. I recommend anyone who has tried other pain mediation techniques that have give less than satisfying results to try this out. And yes, you do need the special exercise balls available on the MELT website to get the right type of pressure.
This book provides useful lessons in effective self-massage for those who will take the initiative. I use the foot-rolling technique all the time - it makes a world of difference for my bunions, esp after wearing heels! The leg massage technique is also highly effective for me. I gave the book four stars because I found the author's description of her discovery process too lengthy and distracting from the power of her product.
This seems intriguing and I would like to try it out but I don't have a foam roller. So I can only give it 3 stars. I successfully used a racquetball for the hand/foot exercises. The writing was a tad over the top in some places ala sham wow infomercial, but the theory seems solid as I am a fan of bodywork overall (Rolfing and Bowen). Likely good reference material, but I think I would prefer to watch a video first and the consult the book for specific treatment plans afterward.
Although the information could be highly useful, it reads more like an advertisement for her personal program. You can (sometimes) find the rollers, etc, elsewhere for cheaper, but for the most part, the expense is such that I'd not likely benefit from this anymore than just going to a yoga class at the local rec with a decent teacher.
Okay, story time. When my oldest had her tongue-tie corrected, the pediatric dentist recommended I take her to see an infant cranio sacral specialist in the area. One session with her released all the tension that Luci had from not being able to swallow correctly for months and meant she started sleeping through the night. It was amazing! Now my second has had her tongue-tie corrected too and I went to look up the therapist we saw with Luci. In looking for this cranio sacral therapist I happened upon advertisements for MELT classes in my area, which I discovered is basically self-inflicted cranio sacral therapy. It’s intended to be pain-free self-massage that you would do in addition to your workouts (or non-workouts) not a replacement. Kind of like rehab or prehab. I was intrigued and wanted to read more about it before taking a class myself.
As someone who’s very familiar with osteopathic manipulation, I wondered if this would be manual therapy repackaged for a brand. It may seem like that, but the founder had to find methods to have individuals not trained in any therapy do these body work techniques on themselves and see the same results as the trained professionals. The book is part explanation part instruction manual. I’m more of a hands-on learner, so the instructions even with photos went over my head. I have already taken a class before finishing the book, and having done some of the techniques, the rest of the book made more sense to me. I saw some results after one session and am looking forward to trying this more to find more balance and alignment for my autoimmune, postpartum body.
I don’t necessarily recommend the book as much as the class, but if you’re like me and want to read about it first, I found the book was a good preview and could be a helpful reference in home self-care.
-the first four chapters were all about her bragging how she discovered and created the melt method, and could be entirely skipped as they don't tell you what the melt method is. just that it has to do with connective tissue, and that connective tissue is thought to be the "largest sensory organ in the body". and how its going to cure everything including cellulite when all i'm after is pain management. -when it finally starts to get into what to do in the fifth chapter, she has you doing body scan assessments to see what muscles feel tight, and release those muscles. lay on the floor and notice if one side of your body feels more weighted, or feels longer. this is to develop your 'body sense'. well i have scoliosis and the way my spine curves i'm visibly twisted and uneven. my vertebrae are deformed and it is physically impossible for my spine to be straight. you'd be able to look at my skeleton and ID scoliosis. so laying on the floor and noticing that one shoulder sits higher and more forward than the other isn't going to tell me what to fix. i already know exactly where i'm uneven and its permanent. i'm still uneven there whether i'm in pain or not. -chapter 6 starts with black and white pictures of some things to do. but requires a special foam roller that costs $80-100. -the remaining chapters focus on one body area and how to do the melt thing to each area, with pictures. but i'm unsure how to try anything since i don't have the foam roller. and so i lost interest in the book.
Interesting theory (and it's just a theory) about connective tissue (fascia) and how it affects health. It made good sense to me, so I took a few classes and borrowed the book from the library. The classes were super boring, but I felt great afterward. The book was interesting.
My main gripe with most books about health and wellness is that so few of them need to actually be a book. They are often padded with dozens of photos (as was this one) or recipes. This book could easily be a pamphlet or a long article. So, it feels like this author is all about monetizing her theory. I get this and respect the need to do so, but I didn't find it convincing enough to take the leap and pay all the money.
Money for what, you ask? Well, the book and classes, for one. Also, The Melt Method requires a *special* kind of foam roller (softer than can be found in a normal gym or sports store), so you have to buy a few very overpriced pieces of soft plastic. Lastly, you can't access more than a few minutes of instructive videos online without hitting a pay wall. Again, I get the need for health experts to be compensated. For me, however, I didn't get enough info to find it convincing.
Before I read this book, I knew a little about anatomy and did not know how to tap into my own body for awareness. With chronic shoulder pain, a Dowager’s Hump and seeking out a doctor to guide me towards relief, I was in pain and was getting weaker in my upper body. Suddenly, I was aging quickly, which took me by surprise.
Then I read The MELT Method by Sue Hitzmann and learned how to tap into my body sense and how to relieve stuck stress. I ordered the balls and roller - less than the cost of one appointment with the physical therapist. A family member had bulging discs and limiting back pain and we did the hand and foot treatments and soft roller techniques together. The MELT techniques worked well in conjunction with my physical therapy exercises.
Fast forward to today and my shoulder is now pain-free, but I am working on strengthening my shoulder girdle and correcting forward head carriage. I’m more fit than before I read the book and have added MELT techniques to my weekly routine. My family member and I now ride bikes and take long walks (which was not happening with frozen shoulder for me and painful back issues for them).
I am now a MELT Method Instructor because of the difference it made in my life. This sentence from the book guides my philosophy as a Movement Coach: “It (a healing transition) is a sign that although you are making positive changes, you are going too fast for your body. This is a cue to slow down and be more gentle with your body.” With a no pain, no gain philosophy for most of us, this is sage wisdom. We all can be gentler with others and with ourselves. Ironically, by being gentler with myself, I am stronger than I’ve ever been by running, biking, dancing and soon will take up pickleball.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has pain. I wondered why my body was getting less agile and weaker and learned it wasn’t an “aging” issue at all. It was a movement issue and Sue shows us how to move again. If you want to DO the method and not only read about it, buy the Hand and Foot Treatment Kit and Soft Roller. It doesn’t take much time on the ball or roller each week to get pain relief results and it compliments working with a physical therapist or on your own as a preventative to future issues. The balls and roller are sold separately, and the book shows the techniques and the why behind it. You can choose which techniques you want to do based on the part of the body you want to emphasize, for instance, upper or lower body. You can also create your own pain self-treatment plan.
The book is a basic introduction into anatomy from the connective tissue, or fascia, view. This method is the way to better energy, strength, and health. The most important things about MELT is…well, there are several. Read the book to find out and join the MELT tribe!
I think I found what my body has been crying out for. As a person that has been suffering something in my body that I could not understand post contracting covid, this book explains everything with scientific back up and its such a service to me. Going through months of confusion and overwhelming bursts of anxiety, Sue Hitzmann describes all that I felt with her research. Everything she explains about what happens with dehydrated connective tissues happened to me, and it gave me so much relief to finally understand what I was going through and why. And she does her best to simplify all the science she learned to make it easier for us to get the big picture, hence probably lots of her repition of certain concepts. As a non savvy science person I can really appreciate that. No medical health care provider I met with listened or took the time to understand what my symptoms were and mostly brushed me off and said it will go away. This book is a savior and gives me so much hope that I can get better and treat myself in doing so. I have done the Rebalance sequence only 3x so far and already can feel my connective tissues moving towards restoration. If you have something going on that you do not understand in your body and tried other things and still have a mystery, I encourage you to read this. Dehydration of your fascia and connective tissue system could be the cause.
I have been taking a MELT class at my gym once a week and have found it to be quite amazing. I bought this book so I would have some of the processes in front of me to be able to MELT at home. I appreciated her detailed explanations of how our bodies get to this point and what MELT does to resolve the aches and pains we experience. Her explanations of the processes are very detailed and her photographs are very helpful. I'm so glad I bought this book. I have now been MELTing in my living room for a few minutes each night before I go to bed and it has really helped this old body feel better!
I really don't get what the hype is all about. I tried hard to like this book, but the author's unending self-congratulations about her supposedly miraculous insights and discovery eventually just got too unbearable. Hitzmann insists that every type of pain can be solved with foam rollers and the annoyingly termed MELT method--even though it's scientifically well established that neuropathic and nociceptive pain experiences are fundamentally different, requiring different therapies. Although the basic concept of the book is sound, it's neither new nor worthy of the hyperbole. You're much better off with Anat Baniel's "Move into Life."
This method of therapy should be mandatory for PT/OTs. The work is consistent and very reasonable (coming from an able bodied person who does not take that for granted.) I feel like Sue Hitzmann is devoted and incredibly knowledgeable, but more importantly, if you read her background you see she is a healer. I’m very intrigued by her very early awareness of her ability to feel the vibrations of others’ energy. That’s a healer. I know a few healers and the common theme is the ability to tune into other beings’ energy fields. I highly recommend this book, so why not 5 stars? Because her videos are even better. Check her out in all mediums.
Living with chronic pain is no fun. This year I was determined to do something about it, and I came across this method of self-treatment on youtube. After talking to my massage therapist, I found a class to take locally. I ordered the book and read it before the class. I was a bit skeptical, but after the class just yesterday, I think this will help! I encourage everyone in pain to at least investigate this method. Why not?
I heard about this from a lady in a mall store who suffered from terrible wrist pain. She had tried everything and then found this method and raved about it. It is very interesting, and sounds great. I bought the roller and read the book cover to cover, highlighting as I went along like I was in College. It is just so detailed and I couldn't keep up. For anyone interested in alternative forms of healing for pain, I would recommend it.
2.5 stars rounded up. In the end, I only tried these exercises a few times and felt no immediate results. If she hadn't touted that I would feel immediate results I would have probably continued. The author seemed to repeat herself over and over again. I can say that one benefit to this book is that I understand the Graston technique a bit better and this book led me to find a practitioner and I am feeling immediate results from that.
If you enjoy Anatomy and Physiology, this book has some interesting insights. I enjoy Pilates and stretching; this system is similar in movements. It is helpful that I've been treated by a manual therapist - the concepts were not completely new. Great at working out the tender points I get with my Chronic Fatigue. This is now part of my maintenance program.
The method itself is good but you are better off just using her videos. She never acknowledges that there are limitations to what kind of pain her method can treat. I love her method though. I think it is great. Especially at improving your proprioception and stability. Try Claire Davies' Trigger Point Workbook if you still have pain after using the MELT Method.
We did a workshop about this at a local yoga place a couple months ago - so I wanted to know more ! This would be a good one to have on hand so the maps/instructions would be easily accessible Too bad it’s a library book!