Functional Soft-Tissue Examination and Treatment by Manual Methods

A growing trend amongst chiropractors including soft-tissue therapy in their treatment toolbox, coupled with an ever-increasing body of research has led Dr. Hammer to update his textbook. The first section consists of an overview of soft-tissue examination and response of tissues to manual therapy. The second section is a review of the anatomy, examination and treatment of the lumbar spine and extremities. The functional diagnosis charts included here for each region are valuable practice aids. The new chapter on the lumbar spine is a thorough and up-to-date review of instability and exercise rehabilitation. The final section consists of a detailed explanation of the various manual treatment methods available to the practitioner with several topics new to this edition. The description of techniques can serve as an introduction to the respective fields or as a refresher for the experienced practitioner. Another highlight of this section is the summary of the clinical implications of Janda’s work. While the majority of the text is extensively referenced and effectively illustrated, I was disappointed in some chapters that had little evidence supporting their efficacy and central concepts. In addition, the text’s different contributors from various disciplines creates a disconnect between certain chapters rendering some topics redundant. Despite these minor shortcomings, the text is a thorough and well-referenced review that can be read cover-to-cover, or used as a reference text.