Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage

by Mark F. Beck

Comprehensive, engaging, and easy to read, this exciting new edition continues to set itself apart as the original and classic introductory massage text. Now in gorgeous full color, filled with hundreds of photos of procedures and techniques Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage, Fourth Edition, truly is the book to have. This highly respected, best-seller covers everything from the history of massage to massage modalities to practical information on how to have a successful, fulfilling career in massage. It provides readers with a solid understanding of the body and its functions, including a thorough but uncomplicated chapter on anatomy and physiology. Readers will learn massage techniques and therapeutic skills, including sports massage, prenatal massage, medical massage, hydrotherapy, lymph massage, massage in a spa setting and much more. Thoughtfully revised, this is the foundational book for the study of massage therapy.

Genres: Nonfiction

1008 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 1991

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Very thorough, a good way to get an overview of the field, but suffers from a bunch of the problems of the field… no distinction, for example, between claims about musculoskeletal anatomy and chakras! It’s all just presented straightforwardly to be accepted. I’m as into esotericism as the next guy, but it’s a little shocking. Also, lots of punctuation and grammatical errors.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading this to brush up on my massage skills. I remember this book being informative. Of course, most of the skills I learned in massage school were hands-on and progressive. That will be my best review, getting back to actually massaging. But this will help to review the different strokes and the individual muscles, I hope. Have to dig out my kinesiology book too, to review muscles, actions, insertions and such...