In 1990 I compiled a book of self-treatment approaches deriving from osteopathy…and with very little originality, called it “Osteopathic Self-Treatment” (Thorsons, Wellingborough)
The idea was to explain simple manual self-treatment methods, to be used in combination with a therapist, who would help to select and demonstrate the various methods.
In this way, patients/clients as well as their health-care advisers would have an investment in using the book safely …I thought!
The content list offers a sense of what was on offer:
- Different forms of Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
- Explanations and summaries of MET methods
- Muscles: types and tests
- MET in action
- Trigger points and their importance
- Self-mobilization methods
- Strain and counterstrain techniques
What happened?
The book sold moderately well….but NOT to patients …it was largely purchased my therapists who found the ‘idiot-proof’ guidelines for use of soft-tissue manipulation and exercise methods, helpful in their work.
Unfortunately however, over the next few years sales dipped, and the book was discontinued – with copyright reverting to me.
Despite this I was convinced of its intrinsic value – as on a regular basis, practitioners/therapists would contact me to say what a boon it was in their work, and why could they not get copies any more as the one they had was ragged and falling apart?
The years went by, and I changed publisher, and at some point suggested that we revive the book, by updating it and giving it a new title.
As a result “Maintaining Body Balance etc etc” emerged (ChurchillLivingstone 2004) – with a subtitle: “A practical guide to the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction”.
The book was enlarged, expanded and improved (see content list below)
….now surely (I thought), it would find a market?
- The different forms of MET
- Testing for shortness in muscles
- MET: Treatment and Self-treatment methods
- Trigger points and their importance in pain control
- self-mobilization methods
- Strength plus endurance equals stability
- Balance, agility and breathing
- Introducing positional release techniques and strain and counterstrain
- A selection of ‘Exercise cards’ [free of copyright for photocopying] was created in a flap, inside the back cover
This excellent book, easily accessible explanations and well illustrated, was ideal for collaborative work between therapist and patient….. Nevertheless – book only had modest sales, and limped along until 2012…when for the second time in its career, it went out of print…. and rights once again reverted to me.
I quick look at Amazon.com, today – May 31st 2013 – shows that new copies of the book are now available at around $450, with second hand copies going for $70+
…… In Europe Amazon.co.uk displays (today) eye-watering prices of £1146 (new) and £98 second hand.
The Foreword (by Doug Lewis ND, of Bastyr University), and Chapter 1 (Different forms of MET) – as well as the copyright-free cards, are freely downloadable at no charge.
The book as a whole is downloadable from my website ($15.00 / £10.00)
I’d really like to have feedback from anyone who has used either book in the past…or who finds the present version useful….!
Third time lucky?????
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