Kyle’s Book:
Structural Balancing:
A Clinical Approach
Structural Balancing: A Clinical Approach …
… was written with the Massage & Bodywork Therapy Student in mind; to encourage each student to explore and expand their study and practice of massage therapy. It is a comprehensive manual on principles, practices, and procedures for delivering clinical massage therapy.
Yet seriously interested Clients and non-professionals have found great value in reading the book as well.
“I, Kyle C. Wright … believe it will be the primary ‘building block’ in your development toward becoming a well-trained clinical massage and bodywork therapist.”
CONTENTS of The Structural Balancing Book
Section 1: Foundations
Chapters 1-5
In order to apply proper manual techniques it is important to have a solid understanding of the principles underlying those techniques. An effective process of gathering data is necessary to know where and when to apply those techniques. A clear understanding of Chronic Excess Muscle and Nerve Tension (C.E.M.&.N.T.) and the many symptoms, syndromes, and pain it causes further enhances the therapist’s ability to tailor the strategies for the specific need of the client. The following foundational chapters will provide the knowledge and insights for the therapist to develop an effective treatment strategy.
Welcome Chapter: Value of Soft-Tissue Therapy
The chapter offers a brief introduction to the overall benefits of soft-tissue therapy and describes the phenomena of Chronic, Excess Muscle and Nerve Tension (C.E.M. & N.T.), as well as why it should be recognized as a primary cause of many afflictions that are not effectively treated by other therapies, including more typical massage and bodywork modalities.
Chapter 1: The Components of Structure (Bones and Landmarks)
Chapter 1 involves a palpatory study of the skeletal body to develop hand-placement skills for learning the muscles and their attachments. Topics include a study of the bones and surface features, bony landmarks, bone positioning as it relates to structure and movement, and where and how muscles attach to bones and the paths they travel over the body’s joints
Chapter 2: Structural Analysis and Postural Assessment
Chapter 2 discusses visualizing and analyzing the positioning of the client’s bones in space and their relationship with each other. Topics include observational skills, the application of structural anatomy and postural kinesiology, muscular imbalances, chronic bad postures, the planes of the body, and understanding how structural analysis and postural assessment allow the practitioner to determine causes of pain and dysfunction that are distant from the apparent symptom.
Chapter 3: Muscle Tension and Causes
Chapter 3 offers an in-depth look at the various causes of muscle tension and provides insights into how it can be prevented and how it should be treated.
Chapter 4: Symptoms and Conditions of Muscle Tension
Chapter 4 describes how muscle tension, directly and indirectly, causes specific conditions and symptoms.
Chapter 5: Principles of Reversing Muscle Tension
Chapter 5 provides clinical approaches to soft tissues and chronic tension, including understanding why soft-tissue therapy, when improperly applied, can be ineffective or counter-productive.
Section II: Clinical Massage Therapy and Structural Bodywork
Chapters 6-10
Clinical massage therapy and structural bodywork (at one level) are two different therapy disciplines. The first, clinical massage therapy, involves the ability to understand and effectively identify and manipulate the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of reducing chronic excess muscle tensions that contribute to the onset of pain and dysfunction. Structural bodywork adds a level of sophistication in scientifically tracking down the aches, pains, and dysfunction not sufficiently responsive to localized (at the location of symptoms) treatment of neuromuscular and myofascial structures.
Each chapter contains pertinent information structured in an easy-to-follow format to assist in facilitating the student’s learning of the muscles, origins, insertions, functions, and myotomes. Pain referral patterns associated with each muscle, clinical notes for discussion and reference, patient positioning, and treatment routines are all included.
Chapter 6: Posterior Lower Extremity Compartment (PLEC)
Chapter 6 covers the muscles of the Posterior Lower Extremity Compartment (PLEC) and the related problems that can manifest in muscles of the foot, calf, posterior and lateral thigh, buttock, and hip.
Chapter 7: Anterior Torso Compartment (ATC)
Chapter 7 covers the muscles of the Anterior Torso Compartment (ATC) and the related problems that can manifest in muscles of the abdomen, chest, anterior neck, and jaw.
Chapter 8: Anterior Lower Extremity Compartment (ALEC)
Chapter 8 covers the muscles of the Anterior Lower Extremity Compartment (ALEC) and the related problems that can manifest in the muscles of the foot, shin, anterior and medial thigh.
Chapter 9: Posterior Torso Compartment (PTC)
Chapter 9 covers the muscles of the Posterior Torso Compartment (PTC) and the related problems that can manifest in the muscles of the lower, middle, and upper back, shoulder, and posterior neck.
Chapter 10: Upper Extremity Compartment (UEC)
Chapter 10 covers the muscles of the Upper Extremity Compartment (UEC) and the related problems that can manifest in the muscles of the arm, forearm, and hand.
Available From Amazon.com HERE
From the Amazon Book Description:
Structural Balance: A Clinical Approach by Kyle Wright advances the reader’s clinical knowledge and hands-on skills of trigger point therapy techniques, postural and body structural conditions that cause chronic pain and discomfort, and specific therapies and exercises for resolving those conditions. Appropriate for clinical courses in massage therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic programs, this text provides a step-by-step illustrated guide of manipulations for easy learning of muscle pains and their causes. Content is practical and treatment specific, discussing muscle attachments, pain patterns, clinical notes, range-of-motion exercises, physical distortions, and proper positioning. Structural Balance teaches employable skills for a variety of healthcare specialties.
About the Author (from Amazon):
Founder of “The Wright Centers of Advanced Bodywork, Inc.”; which are healthcare facilities devoted to the treatment and ongoing clinical research of myofascial imbalances and soft tissue pain.
Kyle graduated in 1984 from the Suncoast School of Massage Therapy, Inc., located in Tampa, Florida. He was certified by the St. John’s Clinical Institute in Neuromuscular Therapy one year later. He has assisted on a national level with leading teachers in the field of Neuromuscular Therapy from 1986 through 1991.
Kyle is co-founder and CEO of the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy, Inc. where he developed the clinical and practical portion of the neuromuscular and structural bodywork curriculum.
He is also co-founder and co-owner of the Southeastern Schools of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy, Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Kyle is on the teaching rotation of the Complimentary / Alternative Medicine (CAM) curriculum at the University of North Florida, located in Jacksonville, Florida. He teaches proper posture, myofascial imbalances and their relation to musculoskeletal pain. He has been a speaker at:
- The National Convention for Osteopathic Medicine
- The Florida Chiropractic Convention
- Mayo Clinic, Physical Therapy Department, Jacksonville, Florida
- National Certification Courses for Strength and Conditioning Specialists
Kyle’s CO-Author of Structural Balancing: DSL
Product Details (from Amazon):
- Series: Massage Therapy
- Spiral-bound: 416 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education; 1 edition (January 19, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0073373923
- ISBN-13: 978-0073373928
- Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 1.2 x 11.2 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars