Many massage-therapy students graduate from bodywork schools with a basic understanding of a solid Swedish massage and a moderate amount of knowledge in other modalities, but a woeful lack of understanding about respectful and intelligent deep work. Many students and new practitioners think that trigger-point work means leaning on a client with probing thumbs until the client squirms and then leaves the table—probably bruised and unsatisfied. If this text by Carole Osborne-Sheets had been included in their curriculum, the mystery of deep work would have been resolved and the relationship of “tissue sculpting” to many other forms of bodywork would have been explained. This book is not the only one to nicely explain deep bodywork, but it is one of the best.

In the first chapter, Osborne-Sheets states, “Deep tissue sculpting is one of the ... most effective, practical techniques for the release of chronic tension. Penetrating, yet non-intrusive, deep tissue sculpting has proven to be reliable in releasing soft tissue tension and pain associated with stress, overexertion and some injuries and illnesses.” Osborne-Sheets uses the remainder of the book to prove and explain this statement.

She carefully outlines the anatomy behind hypertonic muscles; offers a respectful nod to other forms of bodywork from which she has gained her understanding of the body’s physiological response to chronic tension; gives detailed evidence for this modality’s efficacy; and provides easy-to-follow protocols for specific conditions. Illustrations and photographs are ample and effective it supporting the text. Also impressive is her willingness to list 11 contraindications for this modality alongside pre-and perinatal sculpting precautions.

None of this is new or startling—and that’s what makes the book so attractive. It takes anatomical and physiological concepts we learned in school, combines them with our frustration as therapists at trying to into” bodies that can be unyielding, and gives us step-b~-step effective methods to help release tension. If you don’t have time to take a weeklong course in various forms myofascial releases just spend the money on this book. and you’ll be more effective as a therapist.

The author states that deep-tissue sculpting can often bring about emotional releases, “including intense crying, screaming, kicking and other expressions of anger.” She outlines methods to handle these outbursts, such as rubbing the belly and stroking the chin, which I consider to be invasive and well beyond my scope of practice. I would have preferred she strongly suggest that those of us who are not willing psychotherapist merely do no harm — sit near a client during these outbursts and then refer to an appropriate talk therapist.

Other than this objection, the book is incredibly valuable and can be immediately helpful.

—Charlotte Michael Versagi, L.M T, NC. TMB., is a journalist, a hospital lymphedema therapist who also sees cancer patients, and a science instructor in a massage-therapy program at The Carnegie Institute in Troy, Michigan.

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