HEMME APPROACH TO SOFT-TISSUE THERAPY
HEMME APPROACH TO SOFT-TISSUE THERAPY
HEMME APPROACH TO SOFT-TISSUE THERAPY
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PREFACE<br />
This manual is a "why and how-to book" that teaches the powerful and<br />
productive principles behind soft-tissue therapy and how to apply them. These<br />
principles are taken from physical medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and<br />
physical therapy, and then uniquely applied to soft-tissue therapy. No other<br />
book has ever compiled, organized, or summarized the principles of soft-tissue<br />
therapy the way they appear in this manual.<br />
By learning the principles behind trigger point therapy, neuromuscular<br />
therapy, connective tissue therapy, range-of-motion stretching, and exercise,<br />
practitioners will be able to provide patients with the best care possible. The<br />
principles in this step-by-step manual are simple to use, yet more powerful in<br />
some cases than either medication or surgery. Practitioners will learn how to<br />
help patients who have never been able to find help before and give them a<br />
chance to live normal, productive lives.<br />
This manual is organized around the acronym <strong>HEMME</strong>. This acronym<br />
completely summarizes the five major steps in soft-tissue therapy:<br />
• History: medical history.<br />
• Evaluation: physical evaluation.<br />
• Modalities: thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and vibration.<br />
• Manipulation: trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy,<br />
connective tissue therapy, and range-of-motion stretching.<br />
• Exercise: therapeutic exercise.<br />
The <strong>HEMME</strong> <strong>APPROACH</strong> is a problem-solving approach. History and<br />
Evaluation define the problem that Modalities, Manipulation, and Exercise<br />
solve. Understanding the <strong>HEMME</strong> <strong>APPROACH</strong> is the first major step toward<br />
mastering the art and science of soft-tissue therapy.<br />
The five main goals of soft-tissue therapy are (1) reduce pain, (2) increase<br />
or maintain a pain-free range of motion, (3) increase or maintain strength, (4)<br />
improve the quality of movement, and (5) restore normal function. The<br />
<strong>HEMME</strong> <strong>APPROACH</strong> was designed specifically to achieve these goals and do it<br />
effectively without hours of memorizing useless information or years of<br />
pointless study. The power behind the <strong>HEMME</strong> <strong>APPROACH</strong> is getting to the<br />
point and keeping it simple.<br />
<strong>HEMME</strong> Approach to Soft-Tissue Therapy