Postural Disorders and Musculoskeletal Dysfunction: Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

This evidence based book connects the theoretical and practical aspects of human movement and posture and provides basic information for therapists working with people with postural disorders. Practical material is approached area by area so that therapists can easily access the information they require. The anatomy and kinesiology of the locomotor/musculoskeletal system is covered and common pathologies and postural disorders reviewed. This book will be of value to Physical therapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Occupational Therapists, those working in sports medicine and teachers of yoga, pilates, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique and Structural Integration.

Table of Contents:
Forewords Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1 - Theoretical Background Chapter 1. The integrative approach to posture Kinesiological and other factors affecting human posture Main aspects of normal posture Chapter 2. Anatomical and kinesiological basis of posture Basic movement terms Movement planes in the human body The muscular system: anatomical and kinesiological aspects of maintaining posture The foot The ankle joint The knee joint The hip joint The pelvis The spinal column The rib cage The shoulder girdle The nervous system in posture The effect of kinesthetic ability on movement and postural patterns Part 2: SURVEY OF COMMON POSTURAL DISORDERS Chapter 3. Postural disorders of the spine: sagittal plane Kyphosis Lordosis Flat back Injuries to the intervertebral disc Relaxed posture Chapter 4. Postural disorders of the spine: coronal/frontal plane Parameters used in determining scoliosis Diagnosing scoliosis Therapeutic exercise for scoliosis Chapter 5. Postural disorders in the lower extremities and the identification of gait disorders Disorders in the lower extremities Identification of functional gait disorders Chapter 6. Postural disorders and musculoskeletal dysfunction in the upper extremities Stabilizing elements of the shoulder girdle Survey of common disorders of the shoulder girdle Adapted physical activity for functional disorders of the shoulder joint and shoulder girdle Part 3: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF POSTURAL DISORDERS Chapter 7. Principles for a comprehensive diagnosis of postural disorders Questionnaire for parents Diagnosing posture Psychomotor diagnosis Summerizing psychomotor diagnosis data Chapter 8. Therapeutic exercise-specific areas of practice Excersises to lengthen the hamstring muscles Exercises to lenghten lower back muscles Spine lengthening exercises (traction) Exercises to lenghten chest muscles Exercises to strenghten back muscles Exercises to strenghten abdominal pain Exercises to improve foot functioning Exercises to improve balance Breating exercises Chapter 9. Special treatment techniques for improving posture and body awareness "The link system" Using a skip rope to learn and practice pelvic mobility Using a wall to align posture Exercise to improve body alignment:standing without a wall Resistance exercises: training to improve body rooting and posture muscle functioning Other techniques for improving posture and body awarness Flexibility techniques for improving ranges of motion in treating postural disorders Chapter 10. Hydrotherapy in the treatment of postural disorders Adapted water activity for postural disorders Principles for planning a hydrotherapy program for children with postural disorders Summary Chapter 11. Auxiliary equipment for adapted physical activity Creative use of equipment in treatment The underlying abilities model The working on the whole model Chapter 12. Movement and postural development in early childhood: principles and applications Common developmental characteristics of early childhood Orthopedic aspects and common postural disorders in early childhood: diagnosis, prevention, and treatment Summary Chapter 13. Orthopedic support braces for treating children with postural disorders Orthopedic support braces in therapy The importance of combining brace support treatment with adapted physical activity Summary Chapter 14. Methodological aspects in the treatment of children with postural disorders Aims of treatment in postural disorders Selecting the treatment design Stages if individual treatment for children with postural disorders Afterword References Bibliography Appendices 1-7 Index

About the Author :
Dr. Gill Solberg is a graduate of the Zinman College at the Wingate Institute, Israel, with a specialization in postural disorders. During his graduate studies he specialized in Clinical Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Activity for populations with special needs. His doctoral thesis was on this subject. For 12 years Dr. Solberg has been a diagnostician and head therapist at the Holon Therapeutic Sport Center in Israel and was also in charge of hydrotherapy and adapted movement for children with postural disorders. Since 1994 he is a lecturer at the Seminar Hakibbutzim Teachers College and at the Zinman College of Physical Education and sport sciences at the Wingate Institute. He also conducts inservice courses for rehabilitative movement therapists. Dr. Solberg has published many articles and has presented his work at many professional conventions around the world.

Review :
"Dr Solberg has managed to produce an easy to use, comprehensive guide to posture in this book. He has taken each area of the body and shown how it is affected by postural changes, described them in easy to understand terms and given a great range of exercises to help with them. The exercises and poses are both clear and self-explanatory with good use of photos. The step by step approach in the book reflects the process needed to deal with any musculoskeletal problem and I highly recommend it."'Health Matters', Swindon 105.5, 2009 "This is a useful book for therapists working in the field of postural disorder and deformity and would also be an excellent tool for students especially OT and Physiotherapy students. The book would also be a useful read for clinicians working in paediatrics. I found the book to be a really useful read, and the type of book you can pick up and review a chapter at a time. It is laid out in a very easy to read format with some excellent illustrations and photos."Posture and Mobility, Vol 26:2, 2009 "Solberg introduces a very holistic approach to the physical problems described, incorporating psychomotor diagnosis and influences from the schools of Yoga and Pilates. For the recently qualified therapist or professional beginning to work with a young population with movement disorders this would provide a reasonable first text with which to approach such a patient group."Physical Therapy Reviews, March 2011 "This book is intended for anyone who works in the field of human movement such as orthopaedics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, therapeutic sports, hydrotherapy, yoga and Pilates...this book does successfully meet its claim of using the correct amount of technical language thus allowing it to be understood by a diverse range of readers...the book does succeed in raising awareness of the importance of posture and the impact of posture on prevention, diagnosis and treatment and, for this alone it would be a useful read."In Touch, Summer 2012