Abstract

The Science and Clinical Application of Manual Therapy is a multi-disciplinary, international reference book based on work by the top basic science researchers and clinical researchers in the area of Manual Therapy and Manual Medicine (MT/MM). The first book to bring together research on the benefits of MT/MM beyond the known effects on musculoskeletal disorders, it presents evidence of the benefit of MT/MM in treating systemic disorders such as asthma, heart rate dysfunction and GI disturbance.

• Authored by the leading multidisciplinary basic science and clinical researchers from throughout the world
• Describes research confirming benefit of MT for musculoskeletal disorders (which helps provide a rational for greater utilization of manual therapy and reimbursement for this healthcare service)
• Presents the latest findings on the beneficial effect of MT on systemic disorders including asthma, pneumonia, otitis media, heart rate dysfunction and GI disturbance
• Critically assesses longstanding theoretical models of MT/MM mechanisms with respect to the current understanding of physiological and neurophysiological function
• Explores the influences of psychological and cortical processes on the effects of MT/MM, including the effect of placebo
• Uniquely presents research findings from all the manual therapy professions and scientists making the case for the benefits of MT
• The symposium from which the book was derived was supported by the NIH National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine