Spinal manual therapy - Howard W Makofsky

Spinal Manual Therapy: An Introduction to Soft Tissue Mobilization, Spinal Manipulation, Therapeutic and Home Exercises is a systematic, easy-to-follow manual of clinical techniques for the spine, pelvis, and temporomandibular joint. The hands-on approach taken by the author goes beyond the traditional theories and principles presented in similar resources.

The primary focus of this articulate resource is to educate the reader with in-depth laboratory studies and material for a multitude of topics including soft tissue mobilization and therapeutic exercise programs. The format in which the material is presented allows the reader to form a comprehensive understanding of spinal manual therapy. Students and clinicians learning manual therapy for the first time will benefit greatly from the accommodating figures, illustrations, and photographs for each examination/treatment technique for various regions of the body.

Spinal Manual Therapy: An Introduction to Soft Tissue Mobilization, Spinal Manipulation, Therapeutic and Home Exercises is the ideal resource for all those interested in grasping the basics of spinal manual therapy and transferring that knowledge into practice within a clinical environment.

Howard W. Makofsky, PT, DHSc, OCS

Howard W. Makofsky, PT, DHSc, OCS, is an assistant professor of physical therapy at the New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, an adjunct professor of physical therapy at the Touro College School of Health Sciences, Bay Shore and New York, NY, and a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at the University at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY. Dr. Makofsky holds a BSc degree in Physiology from McGill University, a BS in Physical Therapy and an MS in Health Science from the University at Stony Brook, and a Doctor of Health Science from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Dr. Makofsky is an APTA board certified orthopaedic clinical specialist with 24 years of clinical experience in the management of neuromusculoskeletal impairment of the vertebral column, temporomandibular joint, pelvic girdle and extremity joints. From 1985 through 1995, Dr. Makofsky was the chief therapist at the Southside Institute for Physical Therapy in Bay Shore, NY, where he developed the TMJ and Headache Centers, based upon his experience from 1982 through 1985, with the Facial Pain Clinic at the Braintree Rehabilitation Center in Braintree, MA.

Dr. Makofsky has published numerous articles in both the physical therapy and dental literature and is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice and the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. Dr. Makofsky maintains a small private practice in Mastic Beach, NY, with emphasis on manipulative therapy and therapeutic exercise for painful conditions of the spine, pelvis, TMJ, and extremity joints.

Howard and his wife Frances reside on eastern Long Island with their sons Russell and Daniel. Their two daughters, Katherine and Margaret, attend university in Montreal, Quebec. The highlight of Dr. Makofsky’s career was participating in a medical mission’s trip to La Calera, Chile, in 1993 with Healthcare Ministries.

"One of the strengths of this book is the eclectic approach to treating…patients. I highly recommend this book for any therapist in an orthopaedic setting."


— Jeff Yaver, PT, Orthopaedic Practice

“…helps the reader to examine the patient using good manual skills to detect and treat somatic dysfunctions. I found it very interesting…the pictures are wonderfully helpful in demonstrating techniques and demonstrating exercises.”


— Diane J. Cordeiro, PT, OCS, CFMT, Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants

“Spinal Manual Therapy is both comprehensive and user friendly. The plethora of figures will greatly enhance the learning experience. However, the quality of Spinal Manual Therapy surpasses solely that of the student level. In fact, new graduates, novices, and clinicians with limited exposure to orthopaedic manual therapy will greatly benefit from this book.”


— Jessica Palmer, SPT and Joshua Cleland, DPT, OCS, The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy