Postural Upness and the Vertical Axis of Gravity
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Howard W. Makofsky has spent his 40-year career studying human alignment. In Postural Upness and the Vertical Axis of Gravity, Dr. Makofsky combines his clinical background in both Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy with his tenure as an Associate Professor to write a self-help book on body posture. This book is written for the educated consumer of health and wellness material as related to the intrinsic mechanisms for posture and support in the body. It does not present another how-to-manual on posture correction. However, it does offer a thought-provoking perspective on human alignment based, not only on the biomedical sciences, but also on the breakthrough insights of F.M. Alexander, Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, Judith Aston, Buckminster Fuller, Noelle Perez, M. Cohen-Nehemia, Esther Gokhale, and Kathleen Porter. The axis of gravity, Newton’s Third Law of Motion (e.g., ground reaction force) and tensegrity are key concepts in Makofsky’s approach to postural upness. Whereas many books on body posture provide specific instructions on how to stand and sit up straight, Postural Upness… describes the means whereby gravity and ground reaction force (GRF) provide the driving forces necessary for optimal body support and uprightness. The reader will learn how to “let go” of unnecessary muscle tension and exchange it for muscles that are flexible and alignment that is balanced, efficient, and vertical.
Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy
The book can be purchased from Amazon:
Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy: An Introduction to Soft Tissue Mobilization, Spinal Manipulation, Therapeutic and Home Exercises, Third Edition, is an easy-to-follow manual of clinical techniques for the spine, pelvis, and temporomandibular joint. The text provides “tools” rather than “recipes” and immerses the reader in the process of “thinking as a manual therapist,” rather than functioning as a technician. The clinical utility of this revised third edition combines the art and science of present-day spinal manual therapy.
The focus of Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy, Third Edition, is to provide clinically useful treatment techniques, while being mindful of the scientific literature related to the practice of spinal manual therapy. It is an ideal resource for all those interested in grasping the basics of spinal manual therapy and transferring that knowledge into practice within a clinical environment. Inside you’ll find sections covering: evaluation, soft tissue techniques, manipulative procedures, specific exercises, and clinical problem solving.
The hands-on approach taken by Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy makes this new edition the go-to textbook for spinal manual therapy. This unique textbook has a plethora of clinical techniques, including the rationale for each of their use. With over 300 figures, illustrations, and photographs for each examination/treatment technique for various regions of the body, students and clinicians learning manual therapy will benefit greatly from Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy.
This fully revised edition of Makofsky’s Spinal Manual Therapy continues to mirror courses on the introduction to spinal manual therapy and will be key reading for physical therapy curriculums, as well as appreciated by clinicians when entering clinical practice.
