Reflex Zone Therapy for Health Care Professionals

This book provides the clearest and most authoritative up-to-date textbook on reflex zone therapy (RZT). It aims to answer the needs and questions of the healthcare practitioner who is coming to the study and practice of this subject. Reflex zone therapy provides a way to treat the whole person through the small surface of the feet. Its effects are to support all physiological and psychological mechanisms and, where specific function is defective, to stimulate innate healing abilities when they have deteriorated. While it may be used as first aid to relieve pain and muscle spasm, or, cover a series of treatments, to relieve specific physical complaints, its primary purpose is to strengthen and support all functions.

This book covers the basis and theory of RZT, including the scientific basis of its action. It also covers the basics of RZT practice assessment, interpretation and treatment through a variety of different strokes, holds and pressure techniques. In addition, the reflex zones of the body are described ad illustrated in detail, and the affects of treatment in various different client groups are covered in depth.

FEATURES:
A clear and complete introduction to a popular therapeutic approach.
Aimed very specifically at the reader with a background and understanding of healthcare practice, especially nursing, midwifery and manual therapies.
Covers whatever scientific data is currently relevant, giving the reader confidence in basis of suggestions for practice.
Emphasises safe and responsible practice for both client and therapist.
Shows how to give individual treatment whatever the presenting symptoms.
Emphasises treatment of usually shrouded causes of illness lying in the background.
Discusses legal and professional issues
Explains first aid treatment to relieve stress and common disorders in home and clinical situations.

Special emphasis is given to and explanation is provided for:
Recent research showing physiological mechanisms accounting for good effects of reflex zone therapy.
Considerations to be taken into account when treating children, the elderly and during pregnancy.
Considering legal and professional issues.
Suggested techniques for symptomatic treatment for acute pain and malfunction.
Relationship between teeth, scars and reflex zones is described, with description of how to use these connections in treatment.
Treatment of the back, the hands and the feet.
Treating people with cancer.
Hints on self-help measures which will further consolidate treatment.
Detailed charts showing reflex zones of muscles.
How to palpate the feet and the tissue changes that can be detected

Section one What is Reflex Zone Therapy? The development and theory of RZT. How does RZT work? Section two The basics of RZT practice. Planning treatment. Assessment. Interpreting assessment findings and deciding upon treatment. Treatment: principals, basic techniques and procedures. Treatment: further techniques. Section three The reflex zones of the body. The feet. The hands. The back. The oronasopharynx and teeth.
Section four RZT in different groups. RZT in pregnancy. RZT for children. RZT for elderly people. Treating people with cancer, life-threatening and degenerative diseases. Appendices. Appendix I Symptomatic treatment for first aid. Appendix II Nutrition. Appendix III The lift. Appendix IV The Sitz bath. Appendix V Anatomical terms. Appendix VI Useful addresses. Further reading. Index.