This introductory textbook instills the skills and knowledge needed to become—and excel as—a professional massage therapist. Enhanced by full-color illustrations and photographs, the text integrates functional anatomy, physiology, and pathology with massage therapy techniques and offers extensive 3D anatomical information. Communication, documentation, safety, self-care, and business practices are also covered.

This edition features expanded coverage of hydrotherapy, Eastern techniques, sanitation and hygiene, HIPAA, and key topics tested on the National Certification Exam. Other new features include critical thinking exercises and boxes highlighting contraindications to massage or specific strokes.

A bound-in Real Bodywork DVD features outstanding video clips of massage sequences.

This superbly illustrated text familiarizes students with individual muscles and muscle systems and demonstrates basic clinical massage therapy techniques. More than 550 full-color illustrations of internal structures are embedded into photographs of live models to show each muscle or muscle group, surrounding structures, surface landmarks, and the therapist's hands. Students see clearly which muscle is being worked, where it is, where it is attached, how it can be accessed manually, what problems it can cause, and how treatment techniques are performed. This edition features improved illustrations of draping and includes palpation for each muscle.

An accompanying Real Bodywork DVD includes video demonstrations of massage techniques from the book.

This text gives instructors and students a structured format for teaching and learning ethics and standards of practice for massage therapy. Discussion topics include core industry standards of practice, laws, morals, rules, and regulations. It is an ideal textbook for ethics courses in massage therapy programs and prepares students for the ethics questions on the National Certification Exam.

The book guides students through the process of putting ethical standards into practice, and explains what is expected of them in a professional setting. Role-playing exercises and example scenarios prepare students for situations and dilemmas that arise in practice.

The Balanced Body, Third Edition provides a systematic training program for deep tissue and neuromuscular therapy and other massage modalities. Lessons cover sequential, progressive massage therapy for the entire body to help practitioners create an integrated treatment plan. Features include over 250 detailed illustrations, 40 new to this edition; Case Studies with real-world scenarios and questions; Indication/Contraindication Boxes; Essential Anatomy Boxes; Cautionary Notes; and coverage of trigger point release work combined with deep tissue therapy and tension release massage.

A bound-in Bonus CD-ROM includes 20 massage technique video clips, 10 Acland anatomy video clips, images, and Chapter Quizzes.