Alternative Medicine, Massage therapy, Massage methods. Professional Practice, organization & administration 

"This revised version of the book examines touch as a form of communication and with great insight has expanded on the importance of those offering these forms of care being able to recognize the ways in which touch therapies can be interpreted. It is vital for massage therapists to understand touch in the context of the client's life and beliefs, culture, age, gender, religion, and health status in order that delivery may be sensitively offered and accepted. Ethics receives a justifiably expanded degree of attention in the text, accurately reflecting both the profession's own increased focus on the important topic and society's demand for excellence in the ethical arena. (Foreword, page vii). 

xix, 681 pages : color illustrations ; 28 cm 

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Foundations of Therapeutic Applications of Touch -- Professional Touch -- Historical Perspectives -- Professionalism and Legal Issues -- Professionalism and Therapeutic Massage -- Finding a Name -- The Definition of Therapeutic Massage -- Scope of Practice -- Ethics and Standards of Practice -- Informed Consent -- Confidentiality -- Professional Boundaries -- The Therapeutic Relationship -- Ethical Decision Making -- Communication Skills -- Credentialing and Licensing -- Dealing with Suspected Unethical or Illegal Behavior of Fellow Bodywork Professionals -- Medical Terminology for Professional Record Keeping -- Medical Terminology -- Record Keeping -- The Scientific Art of Therapeutic Massage -- Valid Research -- Current Research -- Why Massage Is Effective -- Indications and Contraindications for Therapeutic Massage -- Indications for Massage -- Approaches to Care -- Pathology, Health, and Therapeutic Massage -- Contraindications to Massage Therapy -- Hygiene, Sanitation, and Safety -- Personal Health, Hygiene, and Appearance -- Sanitation -- Preventing the Transmission of HIV and Hepatitis -- Premise and Fire Safety -- Body Mechanics -- Dysfunctions Resulting from Improper Body Mechanics -- Application of Compressive Forces -- Basic Body Mechanics Principles -- Additional Body Mechanics Considerations -- Body Mechanics While Giving a Massage -- Preparation for Massage: Equipment, Supplies, Professional Environment, Positioning, and Draping -- Equipment -- The Massage Environment -- Determining a New Client's Expectations -- Feedback -- Gender Concerns -- Premassage Procedures -- Positioning and Draping the Client -- After the Massage -- Massage Manipulations and Techniques -- Physiologic Effects -- Quality of Touch -- Basic Flow -- Massage Manipulations -- Massage Techniques -- Sequence and Flow -- General Massage Suggestions -- Assessment Procedures for Developing A Care Plan -- Assessment -- Interpretation and Analysis of Assessment Information -- Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving to Create Massage Care/Treatment Plans -- Complementary Bodywork Systems -- Complementary Bodywork Systems -- Hydrotherapy -- Lymph, Blood, and Circulation Enhancement -- Reflexology -- Connective Tissue Approaches -- Trigger Point Therapy -- Acupuncture -- Ayurveda -- Polarity Therapy -- Serving Special Populations -- Abuse -- Athletes -- Breast Massage -- Children -- Chronic Illness -- The Elderly -- Infants -- Medical Intervention and Support -- Physically Challenged Individuals -- Psychologically Challenged Individuals -- Pregnancy -- Terminal Illness -- Wellness Education -- Stress -- Wellness Components -- Business Considerations for A Career in Therapeutic Massage -- Self-Employment or Employee Status -- Motivation -- Development of the Business -- The Target Market -- The Business Structure -- Management -- Final Words -- Works Consulted -- Indications and Contraindications to Massage -- Skin Pathology -- Common Medications and Possible Implications for Massage -- Self-Massage.