Soft Tissue Massage for Pain Relief: How You Can Massage Away the Pain from 37 Health Conditions

I am now 45 years old and feel as good as I did in college. 5 years ago I felt like I was falling apart, I was getting more immobile every year and was having trouble sleeping due to extremely tight muscles especially in my neck, back and shoulders. My entire body from head to toe was tight, stiff and sore. Luckily 5 years ago I discovered this book and have used the techniques discussed in this book ever since. It took a long time and lots of patience but the results are nothing less than miraculous. Using this technique along with daily stretching I am no longer stiff or sore; I can run, play on the floor with my kids, and sleep again. This book truly has changed the course of my life.

Written by expert physical therapist Bernard Schatz, The Schatz Technique: Loving Touch Can Change the World and Reverse Chronic Pain is an extensive discussion of chronic pain caused by contracted tissues that press on nerves, and means to treat it. A disclaimer at the beginning of the Schatz Technique instructs chronic pain sufferers to visit a doctor first; even though doctors are not always trained to diagnose or treat soft tissue dysfunction, they are skilled at detecting other medical problems, from vertebral fractures to various disease processes, that are beyond the scope of The Schatz Technique. The Schatz Technique is different from massage, or massage therapy; the focus is upon exploring tight, contracted fibrotic tissue with the aid of a proper lotion, and gradually coaxing the intense knot of dysfunctional tissue to normalize - to be fully effective, a session usually needs to last at least two hours. The Schatz Technique offers chapters specific to arthritic pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, ear pain, knee pain, "logger's hand", neck pain, rotator cuff syndrome, sprained ankle, tennis elbow, and many other types. Perhaps most valuable of all, The Schatz Technique gives detailed instructions for treating one's own pain with the power of one's own touch - no drugs or surgery, given that a doctor has already ruled out causes for which drugs or surgery are the best cure. An utterly invaluable self-treatment aid for anyone who has been given the runaround by the medical establishment while seeking help for pain, and highly recommended for massage and physical therapists seeking to expand their repertoire of healing techniques.

I would pay good money to get to wherever Mr. Schatz is and shake his hand.... I have tried just about everything known to me (at least) to rid myself of chronic pain from sciatica....my knee has disabled me and derailed my life experience for the last l0 years. This is the first time I am seeing appreciable difference in my leg and knee...and I have hope that I can again live a more normal life. I can't wait. God Bless You, Bernard Schatz....your work is better than a pot of gold!

I bought this book, thinking it was just another massage technique book, but instead I found a wealth of even more useful information. This book, actually is not "exactly" about massage. If you visit the authors' home page, you will be able to read his own explanation. (Simply search for "Bernard Schatz" on any search engine) This book is about soft tissue manipulation. I have used the techniques explained within on myself and on others, with great success. I have eliminated my own constant knee and shoulder pain, and I have used it on some of my reflexology clients as well. This is a must have for all those who want to treat and help themselves and others. For those looking for self-help, it provides excellent verbal illustrations on how to treat areas of your body that you thought were unreachable, such as your lower back and trapezius muscle in your upper back. I keep this book at hand at all times. (It's sitting by my computer monitor as I type this)