Covering massage fundamentals, techniques, and anatomy and physiology, Susan Salvo’s Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, 5th Edition brings a whole new meaning to the word ‘comprehensive.’ This student-friendly text boasts more than 700 illustrations and expanded sections on neuroscience, research, and special populations, plus new line drawings in the kinesiology chapter of origins and insertions that match the painted skeletons found in most classrooms. It makes the essential principles of massage therapy more approachable and prepares you for success in class, on licensing and board certification exams, and in a wide range of therapeutic practice settings.

Former textbook for MT 101 Introduction to Massage Therapy, MT 105 Western Massage Therapy and MT 205 Western Massage Therapy II .

Unit one : Foundations for practice, basic and complementary methods, and business practices. History of massage therapy / H. Micheal Tarver, Til Luchau, and Susan G. Salvo -- The therapeutic relationship / Megan E. Lavery and Susan G. Salvo -- Tools of the trade -- Self-care : physical activity, nutrition, and stress management -- Research literacy and massage therapy / JoEllen M. Sefton and Susan G. Salvo -- Massage therapy effects : research-based / JoEllen M. Sefton -- Body mechanics, client positioning, and draping / Susan G. Salvo -- Massage techniques, joint mobilizations, and stretches -- Infection control and emergency preparedness -- Treatment planning : intake, assessment, and documentation -- Special populations : pregnant women, infants, children and adolescents, elderly, clients with impairments, and near the end-of-life -- Hydrotherapy : clinical applications, spa therapies, and aromatherapy -- Foot reflexology -- Clinical massage and sports massage / Judith DeLany, Alice Sanvito, and Susan Salvo -- Seated massage / Ralph R. Stephens -- Energy-based bodywork therapy : shiatsu, ayurveda, and Thai massage / Kenneth G. Zysk and Richard Gold -- Business, marketing, accounting, and finance -- Unit two : Anatomy and physiology. Introduction to the human body : cells, tissues, and the body compass -- Skeletal system -- Muscular system -- Kinesiology -- Integumentary system -- Nervous system.