Synopsis

Health practitioners and body workers need a firm understanding of the significance of fascia in human performance. The role nutrition plays in fascial health, how injuries and diseases influence fascia, and the rehabilitative techniques to restore functional capacity of the affected tissue are essential components of improving performance. This book starts with a basic overview of fascia and its biological underpinnings, and progresses through clinical treatment applications, nutritional and pharmacological support information, and techniques for managing fascial conditions and injuries.

Reviewer: Dana J Lawrence, DC, MMedEd, MA(Palmer College of Chiropractic)
Description: This book provides an overview of the role that fascia plays in human function and performance. It looks at how injury affects fascia, how treatment can be rendered, and how important appropriate nutrition is to the repair of fascia.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide the latest information about fascia and its treatment, in order to have a positive impact on human performance. The book discusses the significance of fascia, the role of nutrition in fascial health, how injury and disease affects fascia, and how to restore functional health to damaged tissue. This novel and interesting book is a thorough and comprehensive look at a neglected area of the human body.
Audience: The authors intend the book for "both students and practitioners in health-related disciplines who wish to be fully grounded in their understanding of fascia," including those in sports medicine, athletic training, physical therapy, and chiropractic, as well as massage therapy.
Features: "The four major parts include a section looking at the basic histology and physiology of the fascial system, a section examining standard evaluation and manual treatment techniques, a section on non-manual treatment (mainly nutritional and pharmacologic), and a final section that provides information on sports injuries with related case studies. All sections are well done. The information in the basic sciences sections links later to the therapeutic approaches, providing a thoughtful rationale for the treatments offered. Illustrations have high pedagogic value and are reproduced well; a lot of care went into the preparation of this text — glossy paper, color illustrations, ample illustrations. A nice addition is the series of case reports in the final section, which provide an overview and rationales for a variety of treatment approaches. In addition, a web site provides links to the illustrations. "
Assessment: This is an important, interesting, and novel text. I have not seen its like, and I think it will find a home in colleges that teach manual approaches to care. What I find most intriguing is that the initial information in the book becomes important later in the book; the basic science foundation is critical to understanding how the interventions that are later discussed create the beneficial effects they do. There is also a great deal of practical information here, so that students can follow the instructions closely, and practitioners will find much to use in their clinical settings. I congratulate the authors for creating this book; it should do well.

Biography

Dr. Mark Lindsay is one of the most sought after chiropractors and soft tissue specialists by professional, world, and Olympic athletes, and by organizations such as the NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB. He is a graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College and Guelph University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science and Kinesiology. In 1996, Lindsay was named 'Outstanding Field Doctor' by the Canadian Chiropractic Sports Fellowship through his intensive work with Olympic Champion Donovan Bailey. Lindsay's work benefits from the personal understanding that he gained as former athlete. Like his clients, he strove to push physical boundaries and had to overcome serious injury from time to time. Throughout his years in the field, Lindsay has developed a strong network of clients and professionals, each working at the top of their fields. Readers are offered the opportunity to take advantage of this network of knowledge and experience through this cutting-edge text that explores the exciting and significant field of fascia.