Featuring more than 250 photographs and 50 anatomical drawings, this revised edition of Deep Tissue Massage is the standard guide to the essentials of touch, biomechanics, and positioning options for a multitude of strategies to treat all major conditions encountered in a bodywork practice. The book is divided into three sections. “Fundamentals” covers basic skills of palpation, explaining the deeper layers of the body and presenting detailed instruction on working with these layers to release tension. This section gives clear information on the proper use of knuckles, fist, forearms, and elbows in preventing injury to the therapist. “Strategies” offers more precise protocols and treatment plans for the entire body with emphasis on client positioning options to stretch muscles rather than just kneading tissues. “Caveats” details areas in which the practitioner needs to exercise caution. Deep Tissue Massage presents a wealth of information in a way the therapist can immediately utilize. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and includes a preface to the new edition, a foreword, an index, a Suggested Reading list, and extended sections on integrating deep-tissue massage into bodywork practice and the psychology of treating injuries.
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13 reviews for Deep Tissue Massage, Revised Edition: A Visual Guide to Techniques
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zZz –
BUY this book, and go buy his video companion set! I have read many different deep tissue books over the years, and this one is by far the best! It is interesting to read, covers all the important topics, it clearly demonstrates the techniques and he offers quality advice on current political issues in the industry. I had no idea that there were chiropractars trying to limit our practice! Its a great book, probably one of the best!.. Up there with Anatomy Trains, Leon Chaitow books, and Trivell/Simmons Trigger point manual.
Anne N. –
I can’t use all the techniques described by Riggs (the man is tall and I am short with t-rex arms) but as someone with fingers that hyper-extend I really appreciate all the use of knuckles, fists, etc. This was the textbook for two of my classes in massage school and I found it to be a helpful resource.
ianovsky alexander –
excellent product, arrived promptly
Amazon Customer –
Hi,
I am a professional therapist. I graduated from the Ohashi Institute in NYC, and I must say that Ohashi has better techniques than this book. Ohashi’s practitioner moves better and is much more comfortable that in this book. In this book, sometimes I’d look at the pictures and wonder how the practitioner is feeling; they look strained, it doesn’t seem like they are using diagonal cross-patterning and their own body weight.
Overall, I think the book is OK, if you haven’t been exposed to the martial-arts -like techniques of the East. This book shows you something that is better than the traditional western massage where the patient just lies there on the table, and the whole experience is static and straining.
However, to achieve the true mastery, I think it is necessary to go to the eastern sources, like thai massage, hawai’ian lomi-lomi and “moving” shiatsu, where the practitioner moves using their center of gravity and gracefully *takes* the patient for the ride. The net result is excercising of joints, which is extremely healing. Plus, the practitioner gets to get healthier too.
I highly recommend Ohashi’s school and books. The longer I practice it, the more I appreciate it.
I also think it is worth looking into the thai massage, trigger points, cranio-sacral and rolfing. I found that all those are necessary in order to achieve some results.
*ShakeNbakeMal* –
Very interesting and detailed book. It is very easy to understand and has plenty of pictures. It also shows you which areas to apply pressure who and which areas to not apply pressure to. It shows you how to perform many different types of massages too.
MikeAndyMan –
This book has invaluable information presented in a clear and concise manner. Art Riggs and his materials are great resources for every MT regardless of the modalities practiced. Easy to read, lots of pictures, and at the same time very in-depth. Be sure to check out his DVD package as well- a must for every MT.
Deep Tissue Massage and Myofascial Release: A Video Guide to Techniques
Shopping mad! –
I was amazed when this book arrived the morning after I ordered it as I had chosen the free super saver delivery option.
This book has come at the right time for me as a newly qualified massage therapist within the first year of practising independently.I am finding common complaints from my clients and I really want to improve my skills in order to make a real difference to their quality of lives…not just a relaxing massage but one which will help resolve underlying musculo-skeletal issues. It is also essential that I learn safe techniques which this book covers as well as giving advice to the therapist about protecting his or her own joints during treatment.
There is also a section which encourages the therapist to make the transition from techniques learnt on a massage course to giving confidence in being able to treat each clients needs needs and problems individualy and treat them accordingly.
This book is written by a well known and respected advance therapist who practises what he preaches. The book is clearly laid out and easy to work from. The diagrams and pictures are clear and helpful. This book will allow me to fulfil my CPD requirements without having to attend an expensive seminar. I would definitely recomend this book.
Patrick –
Great book for manual therapists, massage therapist and kinesitherapists alike. Amazing content and excellent illustrations. A must have in your own bookshelf!
Angel S. –
Ok
Amazon Customer –
A Treasure indeed
D. Garza –
Anyone interested in therapeutic massage can benifit heavily from this manual, written with experience, wisdom and love. Not only is the anatomy information great, there are excellent practical techniques, as well as some of the best “Deep Tissue Philosophy” on applying it to a successfull practice. I have been a practicing massage therapist for over a dozen years, as well as teaching Progressive Deep Tissue classes across Southern California, and recommend this book to my students as the best book on the subject they could invest in. Art is the man!
R. Bailey –
This a great book, but to be honest my review is really for the use of the book and DVD series in tandem, you really need to have both of them to get the full benefit of both. The book even has notes that will tell you were to look on the video’s to find the techniques referenced. I first bought this book right before I started Massage therapy school. I read it and watched the DVD’s and was completely lost. Then after a semester of training and taking myology I read it and watched the DVD’s again and was blown away by how much I learned from them. So I would say it’s probably best to wait until you have a basic level of professional massage and a thorough knowledge of the muscles system before reading this book. What art teaches is not a series of techniques that you would use to put together a massage therapy routine. The book is really more for teaching work that can be done on specific body parts weather you doing a site specific massage to address a structural deviation or chronic pain. Or for teaching you specific techniques that you can use in conjunction with a full body therapeutic massage to enhance your massage by addressing specific problems for the individual client. He also teaches you a number of different positions and draping techniques that you can use beyond just the traditional prone, supine, and occasional side lying position. Overall if you are a massage therapist or a massage therapy student I would highly recommend purchasing this book and sucking it up and purchasing the DVD set as well.
Corbin –
This book was a bit over my head, I think if you are learning the profession and actually being taught by someone, then this book would be great because it is very extensive on what it teaches. However, for someone just sort of looking at basic massage techniques, this isn’t really something you would go into. You could, but you might also hurt someone by doing some of the stuff in this book if done incorrectly.
Basically, this book turned out to be more of a picture book for me to see what deep tissue massage was all about. Still is a cool book though.