Assessment and treatment of muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach / Edition 1

by Phillip Page, Clare C. Frank, Robert Lardner

Overview

Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach blends postural techniques, neurology, and functional capabilities in order to alleviate chronic musculoskeletal pain and promote greater functionality. Developed by Vladimir Janda, respected neurologist and physiotherapist , the Janda approach presents a unique perspective to rehabilitation. In contrast to a more traditional structural view, the Janda approach is functional—emphasizing the importance of the sensorimotor system in controlling movement and chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes from sports and general activities. Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach is the only text to offer practical, evidence-based application of Janda’s theories.

 

Filled with illustrations, photos, and step-by-step instructions, Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance uses a systematic approach in presenting information that can be used in tandem with other clinical techniques. This resource for practitioners features the following tools:

—A rationale for rehabilitation of the musculoskeletal sytem based on the relationship between the central nervous system and the motor system —A systematic method for the functional examination of the muscular system —Treatment processes focusing on the triad of normalization of peripheral structures, restoration of muscle balance, and facilitation of afferent systems and sensorimotor training —The role of muscle imbalance and functional pathology of sensorimotor systems for specific pain complaints, including cervical pain syndrome, upper- and lower-extremity pain syndromes, and low back pain syndromes

 

Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance provides an evidence-based explanation of muscle imbalance. The step-by-step Janda system of evaluation is explained—including analysis of posture, balance, and gait; evaluation of movement patterns; testing of muscle length; and assessment of the soft tissue. The text explores treatment options for muscle imbalance through facilitation and inhibition techniques and sensorimotor training to restore neuromsucular function. It also includes four case studies examining musculoskeletal conditions and showing how the Janda approach compares with other treatments. This text combines theory, evidence, and applications to assist clinicians in implementing the Janda approach into their practice.

           

Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance: The Janda Approach focuses on the neurological aspects of muscle imbalance that are common causes of pain and dysfunction in sports and occupational activities. By distilling the scientific works of Vladimir Janda into a practical, systematic approach, this unique resource will assist health care providers in treating patients with musculoskeletal complaints as well as exercise professionals in developing appropriate exercise prescription and training programs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736074001
Publisher:	Human Kinetics Publishers
Publication date:	12/28/2009
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	297
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Phil Page, MS, PT, ATC, CSCS, trained under the guidance of Dr. Vladimir Janda and has taught the Janda approach at national and international workshops. A certified kinesiotaping practitioner, Page is currently working toward his doctorate in kinesiology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where his research focuses on EMG and muscle imbalance. He is also director of clinical education and research for Thera-Band products.

 

Page and his wife, Angela, live in Baton Rouge with their four children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and cooking.

 

Clare C. Frank, DPT, is an orthopedic clinical specialist in private practice in Los Angeles. She serves on the clinical faculty for Kaiser Permanente Movement Science Fellowship in Los Angeles. She also serves as a guest lecturer at the local universities and teaches throughout the United States and internationally.   

 

Frank studied under and taught with Dr. Vladimir Janda. She is a certified instructor of the Janda approach to musculoskeletal pain syndromes, a certified kinesiotaping practitioner, and a certified instructor of Kolar’s approach to dynamic neuromuscular stabilization.

 

Frank is board certified in orthopedic physical therapy and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.

Robert Lardner, PT, was born in Nigeria in 1961. His first career was as a professional ballet and modern dancer after studying at the Rambert Academy outside London, England. He graduated from the department of physical therapy, Lund’s University, Sweden in 1991. He studied with Professors Janda, Lewit and Kolář from the Czech Republic, who are pioneers of functional rehabilitation and manual medicine.

 

Lardner worked in several inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities in Sweden prior to moving to the United States in 1992. He was a staff physical therapist at McNeal Hospital, Clearing Industrial Clinic, and a physical therapy supervisor at Mercy Hospital. He also was in charge of physical therapy services at a number of private outpatient and sports clinics.

 

Lardner is currently in private practice in Chicago and teaches various rehabilitation seminars throughout the United States and Europe.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Structural and Functional Approaches to Muscle Imbalance

Chapter 2 The Sensorimotor System

Chapter 3 Chain Reactions

Chapter 5 Posture, Balance, and Gait Analysis

Chapter 6 Evaluation of Movement Patterns

Chapter 7 Muscle Length Testing

Chapter 8 Soft-Tissue Assessment

Chapter 9 Normalization of Peripheral Structures

Chapter 10 Restoration of Muscle Balance

Chapter 11 Sensorimotor Training

Chapter 12 Cervical Pain Syndromes

Chapter 15 Lower-Extremity Pain Syndromes

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A practical text for clinicians treating patients with musculoskeletal complaints.”

SciTech Book News (March 2010)

“An excellent book and a fitting tribute to Janda - well done! I attended several of Janda's courses in the UK over a period of many years and his influence on my professional life was significant.”

Christopher Norris, PhD, MSc, MCSP, MBAcC -- Director of Norris Associates

"This would make a useful addition to every clinician’s library—especially physical therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and all those using hands-on therapies."

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

"…a thorough, well-organized, and well-written summary of the Janda approach to muscle imbalance."

Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy

"With its modest price tag and practical insights of both assessment and treatment of muscle imbalance, I would recommend this book to any practitioner or student planning to treat MSK disorders."

Manual Therapy

This book "provides a lot of useful information that is different from the typical treatment approaches taught in most physical therapy schools and it can only help give clinicians insights that may help them treat their patients."

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice

Interviews

A reference for physical and manual therapists, athletic trainers, personal trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, and physiatrists. A textbook for physical therapy students learning theory and application of skills for care in rehabilitation of muscle imbalance.

Editorial Reviews

“A practical text for clinicians treating patients with musculoskeletal complaints.”

SciTech Book News (March 2010)

“An excellent book and a fitting tribute to Janda - well done! I attended several of Janda's courses in the UK over a period of many years and his influence on my professional life was significant.”

Christopher Norris, PhD, MSc, MCSP, MBAcC — Director of Norris Associates

"This would make a useful addition to every clinician’s library—especially physical therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and all those using hands-on therapies."

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

"…a thorough, well-organized, and well-written summary of the Janda approach to muscle imbalance."

Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy

"With its modest price tag and practical insights of both assessment and treatment of muscle imbalance, I would recommend this book to any practitioner or student planning to treat MSK disorders."

Manual Therapy

This book "provides a lot of useful information that is different from the typical treatment approaches taught in most physical therapy schools and it can only help give clinicians insights that may help them treat their patients."

Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Michelle Finnegan, DPT, OCS, MTC, CMTPT, FAAOMPT (Bethesda Physiocare)
Description: This book offers readers a resource on the work and theories of Vladimir Janda's approach to muscle imbalance, an approach that looks closely at how the sensorimotor system affects movement and syndromes that are chronic in nature.
Purpose: According to the authors, the intent is to "provide a practical, systematic approach to implementing Janda's theories in everyday clinical practice." In the United States, there is little available written information on his concepts, nor are they widely taught, so a book like this is very useful.
Audience: According to the authors, the book is designed for healthcare providers who treat patients with musculoskeletal conditions as well as experts in the exercise field. Although this group would benefit from the book as a resource, physicians who treat patients with musculoskeletal conditions would not find this as useful since movement analysis is not as familiar to them, and experts in the exercise field may have a few struggles with the scientific basis component of the theories as well as with soft tissue assessment, as palpation of tissues is outside of their scope.
Features: The book covers the scientific rationale, functional evaluation, and treatment of muscle imbalances. The last part of the book goes through different pain syndromes in the body to help readers put it all together. Specific topics include research on the transverse abdominus for spinal stabilization, trigger points, and dry needling. The authors do a nice job incorporating research into many of the topics to update Janda's concepts with evidence-based practice. Throughout the book there are pictures, charts, and tables to help readers better understand and visualize key concepts. The sections of the book are structured in a way that clinicians can integrate the information. All the chapters are well organized and easy to follow with many references; a full list of references at the end of the book spans 41 pages. However, there are not as many recent references as one would expect. Additionally, some of the terminology used in discussing trigger points, i.e. related to spasm and hypertonicity, are a bit confusing. This, however, should not limit readers from adding this book to their collection. Overall, it provides a lot of useful information that is different from the typical treatment approaches taught in most physical therapy schools and it can only help give clinicians insights that may help them treat their patients.
Assessment: Overall, this book provides unique and useful information. It is different in that it does not have a biomechanical perspective, which is how many therapists are trained. It offers a perspective that will supplement therapists' knowledge.

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